Belonging Matters - And Cohousing Delivers

By Trish Becker-Hafnor

A groundbreaking new study is making headlines nationwide with a clear message: belonging is essential to human well-being, yet millions of Americans feel disconnected and isolated. The Global Flourishing Study , a collaboration between Harvard University and Baylor University, surveyed over 200,000 individuals across 22 countries to measure well-being across multiple dimensions, including health, happiness, meaning, character, social relationships, and financial stability.

One of the study’s most striking findings is the powerful link between strong social bonds and overall well-being. Countries with high levels of close community ties - like the Philippines and Indonesia - outperformed wealthier nations in key well-being metrics. The study underscores that economic wealth alone doesn’t guarantee a flourishing life; deep, reliable human connections are essential.

At CohoUS, we believe cohousing is a tangible, proven solution to this belonging crisis. Cohousing is intentionally designed to foster deep, lasting relationships through shared spaces, collective decision-making, and a culture of mutual support. It’s a model that nurtures true community at a time when more people than ever are seeking meaningful connection.

We saw this in action during National Cohousing Week 2025, which wrapped up with resounding success! Over 90 communities across the country opened their doors to welcome visitors, offering a firsthand experience of cohousing life. Hundreds more joined us online for a full week of rich virtual programming—ranging from personal storytelling to groundbreaking research presentations.

All events were recorded, and you can find links to watch them below.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, hosted, and helped share the spirit of cohousing far and wide. Together, we are building a movement where belonging is not the exception—it’s the norm.

Want to deepen your connection? Now’s the perfect time—our special National Cohousing Week membership discounts are still available! Join CohoUS today to access exclusive resources, year-round learning opportunities, and a national network of community-minded people.

🎥 Watch the recordings from our National Cohousing Week Events:

Interested in taking advantage of our limited time new membership offer?

$100 Individual Membership (usually $150/year)

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$500 Community Membership (usually $750/year)

Benefits for your whole community!

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$1000 Launch Membership (usually $1500/year)

Ideal for forming communities hoping to grow

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Upcoming Events

Affordable and Ecological Cohousing Design

July 10 – August 14th, Thursdays, 12pm – 1:30pm MT

In this 6-course seminar, participants will learn from Charles Durrett, the leading architect and builder of cohousing communities globally. Durrett will impart his decades of experience so that you can learn about how to build your dream residential community with affordability and sustainability top of mind.

Participants will learn how affordability and sustainability fit together, hand in glove. It’s not one or the other. We’ll dive in to where the highest level of sustainability is achieved in high-functioning cohousing communities, culture change itself. Durrett will cover both the essence and the basics – based on designing for thousands of cohousers who didn’t want to compromise either.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

From Tots to Teens: Families Thrive at Cohousing ABQ

Like many of us, I cracked in 2020. Trapped home alone with a one- and four-year-old, and all the worries of the world. But this cracking led to a kind of waking up – to the fact that, even before the pandemic, something had been off. I was worn, deprived of meaningful adult connection, and I felt that something vital was missing for my children too. The pandemic drove it to an extreme, but corrosive isolation had been wearing us down for some time.

Where was the true community connection?

When my partner and I learned we’d be parents, I knew I wanted roots and community and I worked at it for years. We moved to the friendliest neighborhood in town. I joined the neighborhood council, the local mom’s club, and our local buy-nothing group. I created a block club. But everyone was so busy, neighbors moved often, and nobody sent their kids out to play. After all that time and energy putting down roots, I didn’t really feel rooted.

And then, in a podcast, I heard someone talking about what parenting was like in a cohousing community, and that was it...

Read the rest on our blog

Join us for our free monthly events to learn more about cohousing!

The Commons

Curious about cohousing but don’t know where to start? Want to meet with cohousing newbies and experts alike?

This (free) monthly gathering will include a Cohousing 101 presentation and ample time to connect and ask questions. Join us once, or every time – we’ll be here every month on the 10^th at 10am MT.

Senior Cohousing Q&A

Want to learn more about what it's like to build, join, and participate in cohousing as you age?

The Senior Cohousing Advocates Committee will be facilitating an informal conversation for those interested in senior cohousing and/or senior living in intergenerational cohousing. This (free) event will take place every month on the 20th at 10am MT.

See below for local and national news coverage on the cohousing movement and community updates:

3 nontraditional living situations Americans are adopting to make housing more affordable featuring Katie McCamant
Agrivillage Adventure featuring Rooted NW
Rachel Carson EcoVillage Celebrates National Cohousing Open House Day featuring Rachel Carson Ecovillage
What's Happening in Amherst featuring Cherry Hill Cohousing and Village Hill Cohousing
Two local cohousing communities welcome you on National Cohousing Open House Day featuring Nevada City Cohousing and Wolf Creek Lodge

Anything we missed? Send us an email and we'll include it in the next issue of our e-news!

Having input in community design

In developing a cohousing community, how important is it that prospective members have a chance to participate in the design process?

In November 2023, Housing LIN in the UK published a blog post by Queena Stone to examine this question. Queena is an Associate AIA (American Institute of Architects) member based in Seattle, WA. She is a past member of CohoUS’s Seniors in Cohousing Committee. Housing LIN (Learning and Improvement Network) is a web-based knowledge hub “connecting people, ideas and resources” for professionals in the housing sphere.

Queena looked at how participation in the design phase of a senior cohousing project impacted residents’ satisfaction with the resulting development. She visited three different communities to research the issue. Her overall finding from this sample was -- not surprisingly -- that “the more participation the members had during the design phase, the more satisfied they were with the outcome.”

Will you share your community stories with us?

Submit anecdotes, photos, videos and stories so that we can help tell the story of life in community.

SHARE YOUR STORY HERE

Cohousing is part of a more sustainable, democratic and connected future.

To date, CohoUS has helped enable the development of over 200 cohousing communities in the US. These communities serve as examples of the sustainable and community-based neighborhoods our country will need in the future. Please support CohoUS and help us double that number in the next few years.

Your monthly gift will both support new initiatives as well as the continued nurturing of our communities and growth of our movement. As an CohoUS Donor, you can take pride in creating a legacy that will live on to support future generations.

Donations, as a community or as an individual, are accepted year round and can be made to:

Cohousing Association of the US

3860 Chase St

Wheat Ridge, CO 80212

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