Protection: There are always meals, medical advice and other support for those who are sick.

Affection: Good friends a one-minute walk away; many parties and celebrations.

Understanding: Skills and perspectives gained from neighbors, directly and via email and bulletin boards.

Participation: Each neighbor is a neighborhood citizen, making decisions about common property. 

Leisure: Gardening, playing music, and sharing community meals are some leisure activities.

Creation: Neighbors co-design new landscaping, aesthetic features and celebrations. 

Identity: Strengths, passions and accomplishments are respected by neighbors.

Freedom: Each person “has a piece of the truth” and can safely express dissent and approval.

What should I consider?

Those living in a co-housing community have expectations about sharing common resources.  For people who don’t want to share, this is probably not a good fit. People looking for co-housing tend to be focused on their values rather than their wants.  They tend to value getting many of their psychological and social needs met close to home.

For most communities, the decision making process is participatory and consensus based which means residents are expected to take part in the governance.  Residents often share responsibility for maintenance and preparing community meals.  

Residents do not derive income from the community and all individually support themselves financially.  

How prevalent is co-housing in the United States?

The first co-housing community in the United States was completed in 1991 in Davis, California.  Since then, about 100 communities exist today, and many more are in the planning stages.  

Not only are there intergenerational communities, but communities for boomers in retirement are on the rise.  Generally for those 55 years and beyond, the retiring communities are attracting boomers who aren’t looking forward to the traditional retirement, but who are still active and want to retire with good friends always within reach. Although there are only a few retiring communities constructed, there are many in the planning stages.

With the increasing number of communities being built, co-housing is becoming a much more realistic option for families, boomers and retirees.  Whether motivated by the financial benefits or the idea of a neighborhood that values social interaction and community above all, co-housing offers an intriguing option.    

As one woman moving into a retiring community said, “I traded in square-footage for treasured friendships.”  It can’t get any better than that.

Lead Photo:  Hearthstone, an urban cohousing community in North Denver, CO. (Photo by Evangeline Welch)

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