WHY COHOUSING NOW?
Cohousing is an important housing option for now and for the future:
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Pandemic lessons: need for community supports and both shared and personal outdoor spaces.
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‘Work from home’ situations increase the need for more and diverse social connections at home.
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Housing Crisis motivates alternative housing solutions for all household types and sizes.
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Climate Crisis motivates shared climate change mitigation.
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A large cohort of aging adults seek options for Aging in Place.
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
- Buckminster Fuller
Bucky Fuller envisioned it and Charles Montgomery spells it out.
Read here his December 8, 2021 opinion piece in the Vancouver Sun.
What is "Aging in Place"?
Older adults often to prefer to live in their own home and community if they can do so safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. As their needs shift, they make adjustments and accommodations within their place of residence. It provides for a happier and healthier lifestyle and thus postpones the need for more intense assisted living until later in life.
Juanita Farmhouse Cottages is an 8 unit cohousing community in the Seattle area, dreamed and developed by Kim Saunders as she looked to create community and share her piece of land with others.
Forming a group and getting a cohousing community built is no small feat. Occasionally a single owner has the ability and drive to create a cohousing community solo, as in the Juanita Farmhouse Cottages situation. But with a single owner cohousing community, there is a risk that there will not be full commitment to the spirit of the community by its residents; so the community 'feel' may get watered down or even dissipate over time.
Ottawa Cohousing addresses community building GROUP FORMATION