CoHousing Values

Relationships

• Neighbors pledge to be part of a community for the mutual benefit of all
• Cohabitation cultivates a culture of sharing and caring.
• The design features and size of the neighborhood (usually 20 to 40 homes) promote frequent interaction and close relationships.

Privacy and Community

• Cohabiting neighborhoods are designed for privacy as well as community.
• Residents balance privacy and community by choosing their own level of relationship.
• Cohousing is not a source of financial resources for its residents; they manage and maintain their income independently.
• The common areas are a means of integration and interaction between residents and are designed for daily use.

Participatory Process

• Decision-making is participatory and often based on consensus in community meetings (dynamic management is adopted as a model).
• Self-management empowers residents, builds the community and saves money.
• Residents participate in the planning and architectural design, as well as help organize the administration and maintenance of the constituted community; they are also responsible, as a group, for the final decisions.

Sharing

• Cohabiting communities support residents in realizing shared values.
• Cohabiting communities often adopt green approaches to living.

These are my values, but do I have advantages in being in a group, in a community? Click here.