Co-Housing

What is co-housing? It is when two or more unrelated family units share living space intentionally.  This saves on living expenses of course. But it also accomplishes a great deal more.

For starters, sharing a home means chores and house responsibilities are shared. Maintenance is one item on the routine to-do list. So is cleaning. How about outdoor chores like lawn mowing or snow shoveling, or planting flowers and keeping the deck or patio attractive?

Of course there are other routines that can be shared as well. Cooking, meal planning, setting table and washing dishes are a few common tasks. Some people in the home like to do some of the chores. Others are downright expert at them. Still others cannot do everything and need help. Others may be low on funds but high on energy, health and willingness to lend a hand.

In a co-housing environment everyone makes a difference. And their contributions are not only necessary, they are appreciated!

How else does this housing option work? Here are a few points to make:

• Everyone (or a couple) has their private space. Hopefully this includes a bedroom and bathroom
• Ideally each ‘family’ also has a private space to prepare light meals or snacks along with a den-like room for reading, watching TV or napping without upsetting the routine of the other residents
• Sharing living rooms and dining rooms are another feature of the home. Residents join the household for common time at planned meals or gathering times for shared reading, group activities or enjoyment of music or TV entertainment.
• Shared laundry facilities are available for each family to use; so too are shared garage or parking spaces. 

Under normal circumstances co-housing is suited for older adult populations, usually those with limited assets or incomes in need of making financial ends meet! Also there are elders who can no longer do all the things needing to be done in taking care of a home. So they share what they can do in payment for what others need doing for them. Think of child care during the day when working parents need to be away from the home. Or transportation to and from school or family activities, or even visits for doctor appointments. 

Of course co-housing benefits everyone who has a mind to enjoy this form of group living. Enriched discussions, shared points of view, shared hobbies, growing new friendships – deep relationships with lasting value.

Co-housing fills a need in our society. It is very much missing as an active option however. You will not find ads for co-housing opportunities or people searching for them. Yet we need them. Think Baby Boomers aging, losing life partners, getting ill, outliving their financial strength, etc. These sorts of problems are age-old; the new wrinkle is that 50 million Americans may be experiencing them at the same time. And that makes a logistical nightmare a very real possibility.

What can be done about these probabilities? A lot. Co-housing is only one option. But if we get serious about addressing all of these related needs I think our nation will come up with some interesting solutions. Some may even be attractive, enticing and wildly successful.

Perhaps we need to think about this more. And then try doing something.

April 8, 2013