Sharing Lives for the Beauty of Community

     In this cold, harsh, and individualized world, the concept of co-housing counters everything that capitalism, greed, and isolation have to offer. The spirit of community can be strong in neighborhoods and cities, but co-housing does it differently. Co-housing is a collaborative living arrangement where families and individuals live together. They share spaces, meals, resources, responsibilities, and in some cases, income. The model promotes shared values of sustainability and mutual support. Co-housing often has negative connotations when in actuality, this way of life works for many people. The communal spirit is such a vital part of the lives of those who live there. 

    An important aspect or element of co-housing is the shared spaces. Co-housing communities typically have a shared common house where meals are prepared and shared. The common house also can facilitate events and indoor recreational activities. This is the center of life in a co-housing community. 

Cohabitat Québec. Accessed November 07, 2023. https://www.cohabitat.ca/en/.

    Environmental sustainability is another key factor of co-housing. Shared gardens are often a focus aimed at providing the community with a variety of fresh produce. There is also an effort to reduce waste and trash with fewer goods coming into the community. Co-housing often features renewable energy as another aspect of their eco-friendly lifestyle. With shared spaces, meals, and activities, electricity, water, and heating are reduced to the common house and a smaller home or room for each family or individual. This decreased the energy and water demand for the community lowering its carbon footprint. 

   Another benefit of co-housing is economic efficiency. Utilities are bought in bulk, which lowers that cost. With shared meals, the cost of food is lower as well as food waste. Gardens also help to mitigate the cost of living by producing and providing fresh produce. The economic efficiency of co-housing is often a great draw to families and individuals when seeking an affordable lifestyle. 

    Most families that live in a co-housing community speak highly of the generational learning that occurs on a day-to-day basis. Young children are around elders of all ages and learn to form mature and relatable conversations. Elderly members of co-housing communities praise the younger families for keeping them young and active. Co-housing exposes its members to different types of people of all ages. This allows citizens to develop a better sense of empathy and understanding of the world around them. 

    A prime example of co-housing takes us to Cohabitat in Quebec City. This project features individual homes with a shared living space. The multi-generation housing model has 42 units that all share the same sense of community engagement and support. This model falls under a LEED Platinum Certification and incorporates sustainable practices daily. The co-housing project celebrates its community's diversity and shared morals. 

Common House 

“Cohabitat Québec.” IDEAS, June 16, 2021. https://ideas-be.ca/data/cohabitat-quebec/.

“Cohabitat Québec: Projects: LabNco.” Accueil. Accessed November 07, 2023. 

https://www.labnco.ca/projects/cohabitat-quebec.