Eight years ago, as four American-Israeli couples watched their own parents age without a plan, they started looking for an affordable cooperative housing model for themselves and friends. The […]
Community is about open communication. The consensus decision-making process ensures the involvement of all members in decisions that affect their lives. When everyone is involved in the decision-making process, people get to know each other well and this fosters community. One of the key elements of consensus is learning to listen to others. Disagreement does not mean the end of discussion, but the beginning of a more meaningful and deeper discussion.
A Members’ Agreement is a binding agreement drawn up by the people who plan to live in a particular cohousing project. Each cohousing site has its own Members’ Agreement. Subjects, such as waiting lists, meals, meetings, behavior in common spaces, rituals and pets are defined by the members for themselves. Experience shows that it is wise to begin forming a Members’ Agreement months before moving in. The process itself builds community.
