Affordability by Design and Intention: Case Studies from Takoma Village Cohousing and Elderspirit Cohousing

With Ann Zabaldo, Dene Peterson, Yoomie Ahn

There are two kinds of affordability in cohousing: the kind that is “baked-in by design” — grants, subsidies, tax credits, municipal bonds and, the “extra ordinary” financial programs created by cohousing communities that provide financial assistance beyond the “sharing and caring” model of cohousing. Dene Peterson, ElderSpirit and Ann Zabaldo, Takoma Village, will present case studies on how their communities used and continue to use both kinds of affordability to substantially reduce costs to their members. Yoomie Ahn, Gratitude EcoVillage, a forming group, will moderate the session.