1. Cohousing 101
An introduction to Cohousing
Presented by Kristopher Stevens
www.CohousingOptions.ca
Zoom Webinar
May 31, 2020

2. Traditional lands
acknowledgement

3. Kristopher
Stevens
3

4. The Cohousing
Options Canada team
Kristopher Stevens
Executive Director
Mark Powell
Director of Community Development
Maike Althaus
Director of Communications
Mike Labbé
Development Consultant
4Image by Kristopher Stevens, Windsong Cohousing, Langley, BC - 2018

5. Agenda
• Log on
• Traditional lands acknowledgment
• Welcome, agenda, intros & check-in
• Cohousing 101
• Why?
• What?
• How?
• Where?
• Hamilton, Sudbury and Toronto
• FIN
5

6. Buildings are
the frame
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018 6

7. The people
are the
picture
7Image by Kristopher Stevens, Listowel, ON- 2016

8. Why cohousing?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018 8

9. Trends behind
Cohousing
• Smaller families
• Extended families living apart
• People are living longer
• Desire for more traditional neighborhood
where you know your neighbors
• Desire to live a more sustainable lifestyle
that is less car dependent
9
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Toronto, ON - 2019

10. What is cohousing?
Drawings by Schemata Workshop, Capitol Hill Cohousing, Seattle WA – 2018
McCamant & Durrett Architects, Quimper Village, Bainsbridge Island, WA - 2018

11. Privacy AND community
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cranberry Commons, BC & Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018 11

12. • Affordable
• Safe
• Proximity
• Social
• Sustainable
• Independent
• Co-care
• Secure
12
Images by Kristopher Stevens, Harbourside Cohousing, Sooke, BC - 2019

13. What can
cohousing look
like?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Capitol Hill Cohousing, Seattle, WA - 2018 13

14. Detached houses
Town homes
Cottages
Mid-rise
High-rise
It is up to you
Image by Cohabitat Quebec – 2017; Kristopher Stevens, Cohousing infographic postcards - 2018 14

15. It can even be more
than one
neighbourhood!
15Images by McCamant & Durrett, Caddis and Wonderland, Silver Sage and Wild Sage Cohousing – 2018 - 2020

16. Of 50+, all ages or even
young people
Images by Philip Krabbendamm and Kristopher Stevens, Munksøgård – 2018 - 2019

17. What can
we share?
17
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cohousing Environment - 2019

18. Images by Charles Durrett - 2018 & Kristopher Stevens, Harbourside Cohousing, Sooke, BC - 2019 18
• Ideas
• The ups and downs of life
• Community meals
• Common house
• Caregiver suite(s) & services
• Cleaning & maintenance
• Tools & equipment

19. • Gardens
• Workshop & craft spaces
• Exercise facilities
• Child-minding
• Utilities
• Teen & children rooms
Image by William Right Photography, Capitol Hill Cohousing; Susie Fox, Songia - 2018 & Kristopher Stevens - 2019

20. What legal forms
can it take?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, PDX Commons, Portland, OR - 2019 20

21. What are the
opportunities
Image by Kristopher Stevens,, Vancouver Cohousing, Vancouver, BC - 2018

22. What are the
challenges?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018 22

23. Considering challenges
• What if I do nothing?
• Am I too young or old?
• What can I afford?
• Can I build community where I am?
• What if I don’t like the people?
• What if they don’t like me?
• Will I have enough privacy
• Will I be able to do my “fair share”
• What are my other fears?
• Is there a market?
• What is your timeline?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Toronto, ON - 2018 23

24. What is the
process?
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cohousing infographic postcards - 2018 24

25. Where is
Cohousing
happening?
25Image by Kristopher Stevens, Munksøgard, Denmark -2018

26. Building capacity!
Gaining momentum!
Cohabitat in Quebec City
Terrafirma in Ottawa
Hamilton Cohousing
Sweetfern in Sudbury
Cohousing Toronto
Kawartha Commons in
Peterborough
Convivium in Ottawa
Concord in Ottawa
London Cohousing
Image by Kristopher Stevens, Cohousing infographic postcards - 2018 26

27. Cohousing in Canada and the US
2
14
13
174

28. The building is
the frame
Image by Kristopher Stevens, PDX Commons, Portland, OR - 2019 28

29. The people are the picture
29
Image by Kristopher Stevens, PDX Commons, Portland, OR - 2019 29

30. 3 Cohousing Communities
The path to membership
ü Friend
ü Explorer
ü Start up member
ü Full member

32. See member profiles on our Facebook page.

33. History – Hamilton Aging in Community
Founded in 2013
Promotes mutual support and innovative
housing alternatives.
Created website,
https://hamiltonagingtogether.ca, in 2017
• With funding from New Horizons for Seniors
grants, Grace Lutheran Church, and personal
donations
Blog informs the Hamilton community about
supports, featuring cohousing and other coliving
opportunities.

34. History
• In 2015, Jocelyn set up
CoHoHo-Cohousing Hamilton
on Facebook & Hamilton
Cohousing on Meetup
• Provides information on
Cohousing and other forms of
CoOwnership and CoLiving
• Jocelyn is now focused on
CoOwnership and CoLiving

35. The Formation of
Cohousing Hamilton
Fall 2019
• Ten-week course with Charles Durrett
January 2020
• Project is spearheaded by Hamilton
Aging in Community members.
• Establishment of the steering
committee
• Hiring of Cohousing Options Canada
consultants

36. Vision
• Inclusive, intentional community
• Healthy, sustainable, and fun environment
• Caring neighbours
• Build upon each other’s strengths
• Respectful of each other’s privacy
• Collaborative
• Sharing of meals, resources and social
connections
• Welcoming others into our neighbourhood

37. Next Steps
ü Deciding whether
we will be all-ages
or adults only (50+)
ü Continue to grow
our membership
ü Incorporation
ü Site Selection

38. See our member profiles on our Facebook page.
cohousinghamilton@gmail.com
Facebook.com/CohousingHamilton/
Wednedsays @ 3:30pm
Fridays @11:00 am

41. Vision &
Mission
• Multi-generational
• Inclusive
• Private, shared spaces
• Tight-knit community
• Active

42. Values
• Trust
• Interdependence
• Independence
• Generosity
• Compassion
• Stewardship

43. Next steps
• Continue to grow our membership
• Incorporation
• Site selection criteria
• Group building skills
• Select a professional team

44. @10:30 AM
Saturday June 6th – Business Meeting
Saturday June 13th - Coffee & Cohousing
sudburycohousing@gmail.com
@SudburyCohousing

46. Cohousing Toronto Explorers & Members

47. Vision and mission
- Vibrant
- All-ages
- Independent with meaningful
social connections.
- Private homes with shared
indoor and outdoor spaces
- A healthy, joyful, and
sustainable community life.

48. Values
• Collaboration
• Generosity
• Honest
• Inclusive
• Respect
• Sustainable

49. Next steps
• Finish & launch our website
• Complete our bylaws & incorporate
• Complete the #cohocolourchallenge
• Continue to host Coffee &
Cohousing meetups online
• Sociocracy, non-violent
communication & facilitation
training
• Site search for 1 – 1.5 acres

50. Cohousing Toronto
Contact information
Second Sunday of the month + Coffee and Cohousing
TOCohosuing@gmail.com
@CohousingToronto

51. Q & A
Image by Kristopher Stevens, PDX Commons, Portland, OR - 2019

52. Books to read

53. The cohousing
associations

54. If you are looking
for coliving options
like co-buying,
home sharing

55. Upcoming events
• Cohousing 101 – May 31, 2020 @1pm
• Cohousing 102 – June 21, 2020 @ 1pm
• Core skills for cohousers
• Facilitation – July
• Conflict Resolution – July
• Is cohousing right for you? interactives
• Personal vision and values - June
• Getting it built basics - TBD
• Living in community - TBD
• Hopes and fears - TBD
55Image by Kristopher Stevens, Quimper Village, Port Townsend, WA - 2018

56. ALL DONE! THANK YOU!
Let us know if we can help!
Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director
Kristopher@CohousingOptions.ca
416-303-1201
Mark Powell, Community Development
Mark@CohousingOptions.ca
416-988-0050
Maike Althaus, Communications
Maike@CohousingOptions.ca
647-984-0618