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Co-housing communities respond to the basic needs of today's households --- child care, social contact and economic efficiency --- by combining the autonomy of private dwellings with the advantages of community living.
The search for both community and privacy is leading many older people to investigate co-housing, a new, inter-generational housing alternative. Each household has a private residence but also shares extensive common facilities with a larger group, such as a dining hall, children's playrooms, workshops, guest rooms and laundry facilities. Although individual dwellings are designed to be self-sufficient and each has its own kitchen, the common facilities such as the dining hall, are an important aspect of community life both for social and practical reasons.
Originating in Denmark, where 150 communities have been built, co-housing is relatively new option in the United States. Only five co-housing communities currently operate in the U.S.: Three projects in California, one in Washington state, and another in Colorado.
Co-housing communities offer a contemporary model for recreating neighborhoods with a sense of place, security and of belonging.
For more information on this and other senior housing options, visit our Links section under the heading "Housing". You can also contact us for more information or assistance.
