Simplistic Intentional Communities Growing....

The following article about the simplistic Intentional Community Model (i.e., house sharing) was published in Tampa Bay Online on June 12.

===========

House sharing trend grows among senior

With baby boomers now reaching retirement age, it is important to consider the options for senior living.

Some seniors choose to move to a retirement community, whereas others decide to stay at home and make renovations. For those running low on funds, staying with their adult children might be a beneficial choice. But another viable option is called house sharing – a long-term living arrangement in which unrelated seniors live in a shared house, apartment, condominium or mobile home, according to seniorresource.com.

Nancy Thompson, the senior media relations manager for AARP, refers to house sharing as the "Golden Girls" household.

With house sharing, seniors are able to maintain the privacy of their own room, but they also gain a sense of community when sharing the common areas in the home (living room, kitchen, patio, family room). Seniors can retain their independence with the advantage of having others look out for them.

Jim Woodard, a syndicated real estate columnist, said that an older homeowner may rent rooms to others if he needs extra income or would rather not live alone. Larger homes could be funded by community or faith-based organizations.

According to seniorresource.com, house sharing could be a great option if a senior answers "yes" to some of these questions: Do you live alone? Could you benefit from extra income? Do you want to decrease housing costs? Do you need assistance with chores? Could you share your place? Would you be able to help with chores in order to lower your rent?

Once a senior decides to become involved with house sharing, the next step is to find an organization that matches homeowners with those seeking a home.

Ron Leshnower, the guide to apartment living/rental for About.com, said that more nonprofit agencies are providing senior matching services. With seniors gaining more experience with the Internet, they are able to search for quality shared housing options or find matching agencies. Within cities and counties, shared housing organizations perform thorough roommate matching and look at special needs, personalities and necessities for each individual, according to Barbara Krueger, founder of seniorresource.com. The agencies check for safety, as well as compatibility.

Financial benefits aren't the only advantage to house sharing. Yes, housemates will share expenses, but other advantages include independence, security and companionship. By having housemates, less mobile seniors can receive help with cleaning, yard work, transportation and cooking, according to Krueger. A senior may feel more secure and less lonely with others nearby. In case of an emergency, there is someone to call for help. And house sharing provides a friend to share interests and spend time with.

"Avoiding loneliness and isolation and enjoying community by living in a senior cohousing community can be one of the most rewarding decisions in a person's life," according to The Cohousing Co.

House sharing also can be in the form of several apartment buildings or even a whole community. Charles Durrett, co-owner of McCamant & Durrett Architects, has created cohousing communities. Durrett introduced many Americans to the idea of senior cohousing in his book, "Senior Cohousing: A Community Approach to Independent Living." The senior cohousing projects contain custom neighborhoods for seniors. Durrett said each resident has his own house but shares communal facilities for meals, laundry, etc.

As an alternative to living alone or going to a retirement home, cohousing provides a way to drain resources less quickly and enable people to care for one another, according to Durrett. Only four senior cohousing communities have been built, but there are dozens currently being designed. The cohousing community "allows seniors to live lightly on the planet and to enhance their quality of life at the same time," according to The Cohousing Co.

If you are considering house sharing, be careful and do your research. If you decide not to use a matching agency, try to get a referral from friends or family members. Leshnower recommends asking possible housemate applicants for references or running background checks.

"Health advances in recent decades have led to a situation where people are living longer and also needing less care," Leshnower said. "So the option of shared housing has great appeal to many seniors today."

By AMY WINTER
Published: June 12, 2011 tbo.com Tampa Bay online

http://www2.tbo.com/shopping/homeseeker/2011/jun/12/house-sharing-trend-grows-among-seniors-ar-235956/

Energy Efficiency in Urban Living and Working

Members and Friends

On Saturday, November 13, Guilford Energy Resources will be offering the last presentation in its “Local Energy” series. The title: “Energy Efficiency in Urban Living and Working.” The presenter: Michiel VanderSommen.

Cities and their residents are looking for ways to cut energy costs while at the same time improving livability. Michiel will talk about ways to achieve this double objective. He will “connect the dots” across multiple sub-topics such as overall city layout, non-auto transportation orientations, mixed-use building, and self-sufficient sub-communities. The concept of “district energy” will be featured, showing how this approach to local energy makes sense (and cents) in a well-planned city. And because proper city planning involves the development of self-sufficient sub-communities, the very concept of community is emphasized and the development of a sense of community is promoted. Finally, it will become clear how all of this promotes job-creation, an important by-product for a struggling economy. In short, we can at the same time lower costs, save energy, improve livability, build a sense of community, and increase employment. Be aware that this requires a willingness to think differently about cities and their neighborhoods. But, as Albert Einstein once said; “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used to create them”.

Michiel VanderSommen brings to his analysis a broad educational and practical background. He is a mechanical engineer, has studied architecture, was educated in Europe, and has lived and worked and studied in several modern cities. This broad background has prepared him for this long overdue presentation, one which promises to fill the gaps within and across many of the presentations we have offered in the past.

What: Energy Efficiency in Urban Living and Working
When: Saturday, November 13, 2010, 10:00 AM
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro
Cost: Free

Hope to see you there!

2010 Piedmont Triad Livable Communities Summit

We must be smarter about how we can successfully compete for federal dollars since the budgets are smaller than the demand. For example, last year there were over $60 billion dollars in requests for only $1.5 billion dollars available in the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grants. This week Ray LaHood, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, strongly suggested that we (Triad area's four metropolitan planning organizations or MPOs) be more unified in our vision and strategy when requesting grant funds.

LaHood said, "Four MPOs is probably three too many.... If you speak with one voice, you'll be pretty damn powerful."

Triad, can we do it?

Do we really have a vision and strategy for livable communities...with housing that is really affordable and transportation that if forward thinking...with emphasis on more than just cars?

Our own Carolyn Biggerstaff attended the Summit and says: "Sec. LaHood made it very clear that the partnership among DOT, HUD, and EPA will include allocations of shrinking federal dollars to communities that do a good job of planning among all 3 areas – because all 3 are integral parts of affordable, sustainable communities. (GSO is already leading the change with its 2010 - 2015 5-year plan required by HUD. Our consultants are working on the hardest part --- strategies --- now.) I was pleased that Sec. LaHood spoke highly of mixed-use communities with plenty of options – light rail, walking, bicycling --- and the need for interesting places to live. For those of us who want to get away from cookie-cutter housing complexes, I am hearing encouragement from those in charge of our federal dollars. "

Humm..I wonder, if we can be the Frieberg, Germany of the East Coast with public rail, large traffic free centers, houses that turn the suns rays into cash and unified and socially engaged citizenry?

Dreams you say?

Ray LaHood might not think so. He alludes to our being big thinkers. "If you build it they will come," he says.

=====

Additional Information Source: http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/apr/29/speak-with-one-voice-lahood-says/