April marks my one year serving as Executive Director of Coho/US. So how is the association doing? In a phrase, just fine, and getting better! Here's a profile of Strategic Plan progress. Stabilizing Revenue Stream - As we refine a business model for long term sustainability, we now enjoy a much stronger financial position than one year ago, including:
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Cohousing Community Support - 48 communities gave $13,113, a record, with an average of $247. Even better: more communities include Coho/US in their annual budget;
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National Conference Sponsorships - we are tremendously proud to be partnering with more cohousing professionals and communities than ever before.
Educating and inspiring through national and regional conferences
Serving as a connector for communities, resources, services, and events
Building a national cohousing community
- A growing rate of listings on the Cohousing Directory confirms increasing interest nationally;
- Collaborations strengthened with several aligned organizations: PFAC, CRN, FIC and SCA;
- A redesigned Cohousing Now! monthly eNews enjoys a subscription of 9,200;
- New Cohousing Blogs are on the rise with a growing authorship.
Elevating Cohousing to a Household name
Creating a cohousing-friendly social and political environment
In partnership with amazing volunteers, and a network of cohousing "burning souls" and professionals, we will continue to strengthen and expand the impact of cohousing. Alice Alexander, Coho/US Executive Director |
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Cohousing Development:
Perennial Potlucks or a Land Development Project?
Mike is our keynote speaker at the National Cohousing Conference
There are two possible approaches to building a cohousing community: focus on land development process first, and community develop-ment second. Or, focus on community development first, and land development processes second. Historically, many cohousing communities did the latter. A group with burning passion for community gather and discuss how it would be to live in a vibrant, supportive community and begin the journey to build something together. Then, 5 years and 60 potlucks later, they find a piece of land. At that point, two-thirds of the members determine that the location, or the finances, or the logistics of development don't suit them and leave the group...read more...
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You Take Care of Mom, but Who Will Take Care of You? Grace Kim, Schemata Workshop Family caregivers provide the majority of long-term services and supports. However, the supply of family caregivers is not likely to keep the pace with the future demand...According to a study by AARP, in 2010 the caregiver support ratio was more than 7 possible caregivers for every person over the age of 80, when the risk of injury or need for additional support is greatest. By the year 2030, this ratio is projected to decline sharply to 4 possible caregivers for every 80 year-old; with a further expected fall to less than 3 to 1 by 2050. As more individuals have fewer or no children, cohousing may offer a good alternative to assisted living, or to continuing care facilities. read more |
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Cohousing Research Network (CRN) Intensive Jenny of CoHousing Solutions Have you ever been asked a cohousing-related question and wished you had a few nicely succinct, number-based facts to support your answer? No, stats aren't everything and measuring cohousing's success certainly has its deepest roots in the community-feel. But numbers don't hurt, and they certainly can offer a hand when evaluating and presenting on the success of the cohousing movement; as with buyers, neighbors, officials and bankers....There will be an excellent opportunity at the Cohousing Conference to help with shaping the future of cohousing research. There's a free, all-day intensive being offered on Friday, May 29th: CRN: Networking & Presentation of Works in Progress .... Until then, here's a preview of findings from the 2012 survey :
- 96% of cohousing residents say that living in cohousing has increased their satisfaction with life
- 75% percent of cohousing residents felt that their physical health was better than that of others their age
- 96% of cohousing residents voted in the last presidential election.....read more on the Conference twitter feed
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Living in Community
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Heartwood Cohousing Hens Keep Huber Busy:
Egg production basis of farm operations
Rachel Huber came to Southwest Colorado looking for the active ingredient she wanted when she switched her major from engineering to natural resources and environmental science at Purdue University in 2009. She found it at Heartwood Cohousing, a a tight community of residents with common goals who own 360 acres of varied landscapes. Huber lives there and leases 2? acres to grow vegetables in greenhouses and to raise chickens and pigs. Requiring her daily attention now are 150 black Australorp chickens, an Australian layer bred for egg production, that feed on organic pastureland and non-GMO roasted-soybean grain from Montrose.The introduction of pigs and the arrival of garden vegetables will diversify Huber's production. "Now, I participate in my ecosystem every day, and I work with the Big Mama (Mother Nature)." Huber said. "I nourish the soil, and it nourishes me." Read more
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End Notes
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"
Community for Baby Boomers" is the theme of the Spring 2015
Communities magazine from
FIC (consider subscribing!), with great articles on senior cohousing, aging in community, and this one by Chuck Durrett:
The Power of Community
Today we can text our sibling to find out what they are having for lunch in Paris, but we don't know the name of our next-door neighbor, nor probably their birthday-unless we've looked him or her up on PoliceReport.com...because, you know, we should know who our neighbor is. It's only prudent to be cautious...
read more
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Copyright 2015 The Cohousing Association of the United States All rights reserved.
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A Toast For Fair Oaks EcoHousing! Kudos to Fair Oaks EcoHousing for project approval granted with the "highest praise" for cohousing as a community-focused model and housing type well suited to Sacramento's goal of building sustainable, safe and environmentally-friendly neighborhoods. read more What the Single Ladies Have Wanted for More Than a Century ...removing some of the barriers to communal living would give America's growing population of single people the opportunity, at least, to decide if living with other people works for them. It might also encourage American in general to think more creatively about our homes, our cities and our social networks.
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Residents of a "cohousing" community in Sacramento gather for dinner. Credit Max Whittaker for The New York Times
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Construction begins at first Anchorage co-housing community Read more about Ravens' Roost Wary of retirement housing options, baby boomers make their own way The future residents of PDX Commons, a 55-and-older cohousing community, haven't even purchased land or fully designed their development yet, but 15 of the proposed 27 units are spoken for. How boomers are creating their own retirement communities - US New & World Report "The individuals pick the community. The community doesn't pick them," Durrett says. "There is no such thing as like-minded people. Wait until you get into a discussion about cutting a tree down." Chicago Radio Highlights Cohousing Host Tony Scimeca welcomed journalist Chris Bentley in the studio, and Katie McCamant and Alice Alexander as phone guests to discuss cohousing's growing trend as a lifestyle choice. more news |
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Resources
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An evolving list of existing and in-process Senior Cohousing Communities; or as some prefer, "adult-focused" or "communities for pro-active adults."
Please share updates
"to create and maintain meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with those outside our on-site community."
Cohousing Directory - New
Catalyst Ecovillage Warwick, New York
Durham, North Carolina
Taylorsville, Utah
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