Cohousing Now!
Being Thankful for Community
 


Day 1 Today I am thankful for my neighbor for letting me borrow her car

Day 2 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who made my family cookies (from a child)

Day 3 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who gave me a ride to the airport (1 ½ hours away)

Day 4 Today I am thankful for my neighbor sharing the work of cutting wood for the winter

Day 5 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who helped me build my website

Day Today I am thankful for my neighbor who had eggs I could borrow

Day 7 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who picked up my son at school and brought him to soccer

Day Today I am thankful for my neighbor who has a lot of books that he lends out

Day 9 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who had a spare lemon that I need for my recipe 
( I hated to get  in my car  to go to the store for one thing)

Day 10 Today I am thankful for my neighbor that helped me hang a picture in my house

Day 11 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who put bandaids on my knee when I fell off my scooter (from a child)

Day 12 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who helped me cook a community meal

Day 13  Today I am thankful for my neighbor that took me to my doctor's appointment last week

Day 14 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who raked my leaves

Day 15 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who walked my dogs while I was sick in bed

Day 16 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who helped me build a wood box in the workshop (from a child)

Day 17 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who helped me move my my new washer/dryer... again

Day 18 Today I am thankful for my neighbor Kay who made me chicken soup as I have pneumonia

Day 19 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who checked my mail while I was out of town

Day 20 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who fixed my computer router thingy

Day 21 Today I am thankful for my neighbor babysitting me (from a child)

Day 22 Today I am thankful for my neighbor Batman (from a child)

Day 23 Today I am simply thankful to be alive

Day 24 Today I am thankful for my neighbors sharing leftover pie at an informal community gathering

Day 25 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who took me to our city's homeless 
shelter to help her serve meals to those in need

Day 26 Today I am thankful for my neighbor who asked me if they could do anything
t o help when she saw I was obviously upset.

Day 27  Today I am thankful for my neighbor who invited my to Thanksgiving dinner

Day 28 Today I am thankful for my neighbor that climbed a ladder to hang my Christmas lights

Day 29 Today I am thankful for my neighbor that asked me if I needed anything from 
the store (she was on her way to go grocery shopping)

Day 30 Today I am thankful for Danish cohousers, Chuck & Katie, CoHoUS, cohousing 'burning souls', 
community neighbors and all those that dream of living in community!

and I am thankful for all those that answered my question..."what are you thankful for today in community?"
~Karin Hoskin Wild Sage Cohousing, Boulder, CO

Conferences & Events




Cohousing communities across the country will be welcoming 
the public for tours and visits. Individuals, families and groups interested in cohousing are encouraged to attend this free  event.
For more information, click here.

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Now accepting proposals
for speakers at the 
Regional Conference in Spring of 2018 Colorado
please complete this form submit asap!

We are happy to receive topic or speaker requests,

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Also coming:
Regional Conference in Fall of 2018 Massachusetts
National Conference in Spring of 2019 Portland, OR

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#GivingTuesday
~Karin Hoskin, WildSage Cohousing, CoHoUS

Social Activism consists of efforts to promote, social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make improvements in society. Be a social activist, support the cohousing movement!

Often people make donations to organizations they support on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, but you can financially support non-profits such as CoHoUS ANY DAY of the week, ANY TIME of the year!

The Cohousing Association of the US is 
proud 
to offer things such as:
  • Monthly eNews including national happenings and highlighted news articles
  • Advocacy leading to recognition by the Federal National Mortgage Association (commonly known as Fannie Mae)
  • A directory of communities (with information and website links), of both forming and established communities
  • A membership list of over 10,000 members, allowing your  classified ad or blog post to be far reaching
  • An annual educational and networking conference (sometimes two!)
    • A regional in spring of 2018 in Colorado
    • A regional in fall of 2018 in Massachusetts
    • A national in spring of 2019 Portland, OR
  • Mainstream recognition through reports in USA Today, Time Magazine, and our members speaking at Ted Talks
The easiest way to donate to CohoUS is to follow this link:


You can also mail a check to:
The Cohousing Association of the US
4710 16th Street
Boulder, CO 80304

Equipment Care and Storage
by Sharon Villines
  Communities designing their common houses often ask about what they will need. What do people really use? What kind of storage is needed and what will go in it? Is an office necessary and for what? They don't know about storage for 8 snow shovels or 6 different kinds of brooms and mops.

When our water bills doubled at Takoma Village, we realized that in less than 6 years our population had doubled in size. And it continued to grow as households expanded from one to two and three and four people. That expansion meant more people donating equipment and more money to buy it - an up-scale gas-fired outdoor grill, a freestanding basketball hoop, a sun canopy for those grilling at BBQs, etc.

All well and good, but the big picture is the increase in care-taking tasks and in the need for storage. Who is responsible for ensuring that the cover is on the grill and the gas canisters are full? Who ensures that the sun canopy is folded correctly so it can be stored in its case without being damaged? And who knows how to do it?

Care taking is forever and requires an identified responsible person
click here to read more

What's in a Name? 
From Communes to Cohousing
(reposted from FIC's "30 Blog Posts, 30 Days, Celebrating 30 Years"

Karin Hoskin - CoHoUS & Sky Blue - FIC


The early relationship between the FIC and the  Cohousing Association of the US was rocky, with people in both groups being dismissive and judgemental of the different models each organization was focused on. Fortunately, we've moved past that and the two organizations enjoy a close, collaborative relationship. These two pieces touch on how we've bridged the gap. The first is by Karin Hoskin, Executive Director of Coho/US. The second is by, Sky Blue, Executive Director of the FIC.


"The Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the development of intentional communities, and the evolution of cooperative culture."

"The Cohousing Association of the US (Coho/US) is a national non-profit raising awareness of the benefits of cohousing and supporting the development of cohousing communities nationwide."

FIC and Coho/US - similar yet different. People of the two organizations share similar aspirations: the desire to live together or share common spaces, to share responsibilities and resources, to create some level of social cohesion. As we acknowledge the varieties in intentional communities, we should also acknowledge the likenesses. As FIC and Coho/US continue to communicate, we find that we are often drawn to talk about how amazing living in an intentional community is (though not without its challenges) but also how can we create more of them. To create more of them, we need more people to know about them. It sounds so simple, yet is a huge undertaking. So how can we do it? 

The most basic way we can educate people about how we live is to use every little opportunity to tell them. When someone asks me where I'm from, I don't simply say Colorado.Instead, I tell them that I live in a cohousing community in Boulder, Colorado. If I get a response like "oh, what's that?" I tell them my short elevator speech, which goes something like this:

"It's like the old-fashioned neighborhood that I grew up in. We all have private homes, but we have shared spaces as well. We have monthly celebrations or gatherings of some sort, and we eat a meal together a couple of times a week, so I know all 80+ of my neighbors really well. It's a great place to raise kids as we really support each other, and we can collectively live a little more consciously on the earth by sharing resources. We can easily reuse or upcycle household items and clothing, and and we can car share among the 34 households."  to read more, click here

 
Living in Community
Recently, on a cold gray day, I fell down the YouTube rabbit hole. I was looking for a specific video but found so many that have to do with cohousing. Here are some of them:







and there are So Many More.

Want to share your story about cohousing? Anyone can post on YouTube. Create a video, interview your neighbors, have fun and spread the word about cohousing!

Coho/US Notes
Thank you to Jeff Zucker for serving on the BOD!
by Alice Alexander, Durham Cohousing



Jeff joined the board in late 2013, when the organization was contracting, with multiple challenges. He was one of just six board members when I became Executive Director in April 2014, and the only one who wasn't imminently terming off! Thankfully, board members Bill Hartzell, Laura Fitch and Dick Kohlhaas agreed to serve through the 2015 conference, providing critical stability. When Bill stepped down as President in fall 2015, Jeff stepped up, serving as President for a year, helping lead a growing board and expanding organization. And on top of that leadership service, Jeff agreed to extend his service as past president another year to provide continuity and stability. Thank you Jeff!

An organization is only as strong as its board, and Coho/US' growing relevancy and impact is a direct reflection of our Board members' commitment and multiple talents. Take a look at who's on the  Coho/US Board, being capably led by President Peter Lazar, and give them a thanks for their service!

Are you interested in serving on the BOD for CoHoUS? Complete and submit an application found here.

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CohoUS is America's premier organization focused on promoting and serving the cohousing model of intentional living.  Our life blood flows from members like you that help support our work and spread the word of our wonderful communities.  
 
Remember, your generous donation supports education and advocacy, we are the 'go to' for people starting and living in cohousing! 


Please also consider making a donation to one of more of our strategic partners:

CRN - Cohousing Research Network -

FIC - Fellowship for Intentional Communities -

Memal.Global -

PFAC - Partnerships For Affordable
 Cohousing - donate here

SAGE Cohousing International -

Established Communities = 168
---Completed = 150
---Building = 18

Forming** = 143
**Thirty five forming groups have acquired land they plan to develop
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Like receiving eNews? Please support Coho/US, serving as a clearinghouse and connector to grow and nurture cohousing across the country. 

Homes for Sale






Seeking Members






Homes for Rent/Exchange

none currently listed

Senior Cohousing







Iowa City Cohousing development is a worthy investment ~ Karen Kubby


A strategy for living out a balance of collective spirit and privacy is cohousing. ...This alternative housing arrangement is based on a Dutch model and is the first of its kind in Iowa.   This description of the community  is from the Iowa City Cohousing website: "Our community will include 36 eco-friendly residences clustered around a shared pedestrian-only green space within a short walk of community gardens and orchards. Each household will have a private kitchen as well as access to shared facilities in a 'common house' with a large kitchen and dining area where we can cook together and share meals several times a week. The common house will include guest rooms as well as meeting spaces, a playroom for kids, and shared workspaces where we can swap tools and talents."  read full article here

Seniors finding cohousing better alternative than downsizing~By Sharon Jayson and Heidi de Marco

...
It's not a commune and there's no sharing of income, though decision-making is by consensus. Cohousing bolsters sharing - a lawnmower, tools or an on-site laundromat, as well as guest quarters for out-of-town visitors. Homes are private, clustered near a common space where homeowners meet regularly to share meals and build community.
Of the nation's 168 cohousing communities, almost all are intergenerational. But now, as increasing numbers of aging adults eschew the idea of institutional living, cohousing has become an attractive option.
In 2010, no U.S. cohousing communities were geared toward seniors. PDX Commons is now the nation's 13th such community for the 55-and-older demographic. Two more are under construction and 13 others are in the early stages.
"Interest in cohousing has not only increased in general, but especially in the senior world," says Karin Hoskin, executive director of Coho/US, the Cohousing Association of the United States, a nonprofit that supports cohousing communities nationwide.
read full article here

Chapel Hill, Carrboro cohousing encourages affordability, sustainability ~Lauren Talley

When Becky Laskody and her husband went looking for a neighborhood to raise a child in, they began exploring the idea of cohousing. Over twenty years later, Laskody is now one of the founding members of Arcadia, a Chapel Hill cohousing community.
"I was attracted to the idea of folks who wanted to live in community and develop our houses in such a way that our houses would be close to each other, and we would be more interested in the environment than some developers are," Laskody said.
The idea of a community-oriented neighborhood originated in Denmark. Cohousing promotes shared activities and resources, consensus decision-making and the fostering of close relationships among neighbors.
The definition and exact degree to which these ideals are carried out varies among cohousing communities, said Abraham Palmer, who has lived in Arcadia since 2004.

They've spent years building their ideal community. Now they just need the homes constructed ~Ed Fletcher

...
The future residents of Fair Oaks Eco-Housing will live in a "cohousing" or intentional community of private homes clustered around  some common buildings, amenities and a shared ethos.
"This will be more like a village where we all know each other," said Pat McVicar, a retired state aging administrator who bought one of the 30 units.
There are 148 cohousing communities across the country, most in the eastern and western United States, according to a directory maintained by the Fellowship of Intentional Communities. Six already operate in the Sacramento region; the planned community in Fair Oaks and another in West Sacramento would bring the local total to eight.
In addition to the residential units, the Fair Oaks Eco-Housing complex will include a 3,800-square-foot clubhouse, shared pool, vegetable gardens and an orchard. The project, on 3.7 acres bordered by Fair Oaks Boulevard and New York Avenue, has an estimated completion date of early 2019.

Cohouser Supports Micro-housing in Eugene, Oregon ~ Betty Grant

Oakleigh Meadow Cohousing member and Eugene architect Will Dixon has donated time and his design work to help create Emerald Village Eugene (EVE), a micro-house community for previously homeless Eugene residents. Dixon's design is turning into one of 22 EVE homes. Each design had to meet state building code for a permanent dwelling - including living and sleeping areas, kitchenette and a bathroom - all in 160-288 square feet.
The lay-out and focus of this community parallels cohousing.
There will be common facilities, including a community gathering area, kitchen, laundry, restroom, tool storage and office. Parking is limited to one corner. 

The model is garnering statewide and national attention. A second village is already underway 30 miles south of Eugene in Cottage Grove. To see the EVE site plan and house designs go here
New Resources