Building Connection: A Prescription for Well-Being & A Thriving Cohousing Movement

By Trish Becker-Hafnor

Dr. Vivek Murthy, in his parting message as U.S. Surgeon General, reminded us of something deeply resonant with the cohousing movement:

"Over time, I came to appreciate that my parents weren’t teaching me how to build community—they were giving me the formula for fulfillment and well-being. Why? Because community is a powerful source of life satisfaction and life expectancy. It’s where we know each other, help each other, and find purpose in contributing to each other’s lives."

At CohoUS, we see this truth come to life every day in cohousing communities across the country. Cohousing is not just about shared meals and common spaces—it’s about fostering a deep sense of belonging and well-being that so many people are seeking. That’s why we’re excited to share our new video that captures the heart of cohousing and the work of CohoUS. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a moment to watch and share it!

Big News from Community Launch Communities

Our Community Launch program is designed to help forming communities navigate the path from vision to reality. This year, we’re seeing exciting progress from two standout communities:

Rooted Northwest just reached a major milestone with Snohomish County approving its Agrivillage Plan. This innovative project will preserve over 85% of its 240-acre property for farmland and open space by clustering homes—creating a new model for balancing housing needs with land conservation. With 12 households already committed, the project is on track to break ground in 2025.
Mission Peak Village is among the few forming communities that have secured land, gained city support, engaged top cohousing professionals, and cultivated a strong core group. With just a few more members, it will be ready to move forward! Those interested can join an upcoming virtual tour hosted by the Foundation for Intentional Community.

As we continue to support new and growing communities, we invite you to explore the Community Launch program and the resources available to help your community take its next steps.

Let’s keep building the connected, resilient communities that people need now more than ever.

Community thrives when people see it in action—so let’s open our doors!

Mark your calendars for National Cohousing Week, a nationwide celebration of intentional community. Throughout the week, we’ll host engaging virtual events, diving into the heart of cohousing—what makes it work, why it matters, and how we grow this model of intentional community.

Then, during Open House Weekend, communities across the country will welcome visitors virtually and in person to experience the magic of intentional community living firsthand. Whether you’re curious about cohousing or ready to take the next step, this is your chance to step inside real communities, meet the people who call them home, and see what’s possible when we design for connection.

📅 National Cohousing Week: April 28 - May 4, 2025

🏡 Open House Weekend: May 3 & 4, 2025

Be a part of it! If you're in a community, consider hosting an open house—it’s one of the most powerful ways to grow the movement. And if you’re exploring cohousing, get ready to visit and experience the joy of community for yourself.

Registration for hosts and visitors coming soon! For now, save the date and stay tuned.

Upcoming Events

Mutual Support Approaches

Wednesday, February 19

12pm - 1:30pm MT

Price: $45 (Free for CohoUS members!)

In this interactive and engaging workshop, we look at several models and strategies—formalized and informal—for how members are caring for one another – in senior and multi-generational communities. For seniors, this is an essential component for aging in place successfully. It can also be a critical support mechanism for temporary health conditions of any age neighbors such as recovery from an injury or surgery, birth of a baby (or two), or being treated for short-term illnesses.

Come learn about the importance of proactive agreements and strategies for providing support, when outside assistance may be needed, and how to be clear with newcomers and exploring members about the reality of living in cohousing.

Matters of Membership

Wednesday, March 19

12pm - 1:30pm MT

Price: $45 (Free for CohoUS members!)

We spend a lot of time and attention on attracting new members, but what happens next? Do you have a structured orientation to help them (and you) understand what cohousing is about, especially senior communities? What about new homeowners buying a unit for sale? Is your community involved in the sale or watching from the sidelines?

This session will explore how communities utilize orientation approaches to educate future buyers/residents to cohousing, and ensure that it will be a fit in terms of expectations and hoped-for living arrangements. We’ll also share strategies communities are developing to handle resales and issues around inheritance.

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:

'Our Safety Net': Sisters Reunite After 40 Years to Spend Old Age Together

What is cohousing? Louisville group educating community on how to design neighborhoods together

Cohousing community for seniors secures land near Hampden

‘You’ve got a connection.’ Durham community offers LGBTQ+ residents over 55 a safe space

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

A community member dies - then what?

When you live in a senior cohousing community, sooner or later the conversation gets around to one of most people’s least favorite topics  death and dying. It’s unavoidable among older people.

Your community may already have experienced the death of one or more members. Quimper Village in Washington had its first death within its first year of operation. PDX Commons, on the other hand, went more than seven years before someone in the community died (although two original members had died after they moved out).

How do cohousing communities anticipate, plan for, provide support for and process the death of a member? To find out, we looked at four communities that have experienced or prepared for this life passage. Read the full article here.

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

DONATE

Professional Services

The Cohousing Company

The Cohousing Company offers design and some key development consulting service from leading cohousing expert Charles Durrett to assist you in building a high-functioning cohousing community.

CoHousing Solutions

CoHousing Solutions provides development consulting and marketing services to help you create your cohousing community.

Studio Co+Hab

Studio Co+Hab is an architecture firm focused on innovative and sustainably-built environments such as cohousing and other intentional communities.