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The Takeaway is a national morning news program produced in partnership with The New York Times, the BBC World Service, WNYC, Public Radio International and WGBH Boston. More »
The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with The BBC World Service, New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
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We're finding in the cohousing movement that the effects of the crisis are dampened by:
* Having supportive neighbors to talk to, share challenges, responses and resources, and know that we're not alone in the struggle.
* Having a context, like regular meals together, to do the sharing and catch up on each others' lives, so that we have plenty of positive interactions to balance out the crises
* Having small, energy-efficient homes because we share common space and common tools: we don't all need our own laundry, lawnmower, lawn, or guest rooms.
* Living in a neighborhood we helped design, built to need in partnership with a developer, rather than on speculation for maximum profit.
Of course, we're not immune from the effects, on the job market, on home finance, and the rest of the economy. But I feel much more secure living in community than I would "out there" by myself.
There are three things that would long alleviate the housing crisis, and the first two of them are cheap.
1) Foreclosures shouldn't be so easy. At a minimum whoever forecloses should have to demonstrate to a court that they are the rightful owner, not just a designated agent for a bunch of tranches; it should also demonstrate the ability and commitment to keep the house occupied.
2)People who live in foreclosed houses should not be thrown out without good cause. This means honoring the leases of tenants, as well as allowing the former owners to remain as tenants. The real estate industry has opposed "just cause" eviction laws for years, but the lack of those laws has turned whole neighborhoods into boarded up wastelands.
3) Install a single-payer Canada style health system. Medical bills are still one of the major causes of financial ruin and of foreclosures. Taking medical expenses out of the equation would dramatically cut down on the number of foreclosures.