A group of Los Angeles residents formed this interest group in early 2015, through discussions at a neighborhood potluck. We had many questions: what are cooperatives and cohousing? What have other groups done? How do we learn about types of decision-making and planning processes? We visited several other communities, which we learned about through the knowledge and initiative of group members. Th
ese were LA Eco-village, Synchronicity, Regen Co-op in Pomona, and Emerald Village in Vista. I felt very fortunate to hear from members of these communities about their goals and how they operated. We also benefited from hearing group members share their experiences living in community at cohousing and other types of communities previously or in other parts of the country. Through discussions and activities, we listened to each other describe our goals and visions for a community. Through a great collaboration with the Meetup group “You Are Here: Los Angeles: Intentional Community,” we explored fascinating types of design, ways of holding thoughtful discussions, and collaborating with other amazing groups around the area. Also, through wonderful expert speakers and members contributing articles, we started to put together a list of resources available to the group as well as anyone interested in the topic. We are reaching out to people who are interested in creating more community-centered housing. We envision communities that feel like neighborhoods, allow us to be healthy, garden, put in environmental features, do activities together, and have an affordable and secure place to live. At Home serves as a resource for those who are learning about existing communities in Los Angeles, and learning about cohousing, cooperatives, nonprofits, and land trusts.
