Anna Got Her Rake – A Prologue to Community Organizing

Eugene Oregon has the highest rate of homelessness of any city in the United States. While there are a number of factors that contribute to this seemingly insurmountable issue, from drug addiction, lack of education, mental illness, we still believe that it is an issue that can be overcome. Like every problem in our lives, a solution has to start somewhere, and in this case, we believe that it must start with community organizing.

'People who are homeless are not social inadequates. They are people without homes.'

— Sheila McKechnie

Community organizing not only creates a sense of belonging and empowerment to people who are currently without a house at all, but it also creates an opportunity for an open dialogue that allow other people to hear their stories and see them as human beings, dialogue that allow other people to hear their stories and see them as human beings, instead of being criminalized and dehumanized by outdated laws and false narratives. This is what we tried to achieve when we spent three days at Washington-Jefferson Park in Eugene.

After hearing about the tension between the people who live inside the park and the residents in the surrounding neighborhood, we decided to spend three days to see if progress could be made. On the first Sunday we learned about the problems from neighbors and park residents. On the next Saturday, we started our day by talking to the residents of the Washington-Jefferson Park in detail about potential solutions.

It was both refreshing and saddening to hear their voices and narratives, their tone shifted from joyous to distressing when some described their loving childhood in comforting homes compared to their current living situation now. We asked them if they would be willing to have a community meeting with their neighbors from the houses surrounding the park on the following day, so not only can they hear these stories, but also talk about how they can promote a healthy relationship together. While some people took time to think about it, they all eventually agreed to show up. Consequently, we spent the other half of the day talking to the neighbors who lived in the surrounding houses and apartments again.

While some people quietly listened and nodded their heads about our plan, some neighbors did have opinions and stories they wanted to share. Some were quite unhappy with the sight of litter and drug use, and generally blamed it to the residents of the park. Some truly believed that the park residents were not the problem at all, and agreed that an open dialogue was necessary for a better relationship and future. Sunday morning comes, and we arrived at the lively Washington-Jefferson Park, as the sound of music and the smell of BBQ that the church group put on flew through the air. We were fortunate to talk to some of the church organizers, one of whom used to live in the park as well.

Finally, the meeting began. While there were not many people from the neighborhood who showed up, we still had great conversations with the residents of the Washington-Jefferson Park. We asked them about their opinion on how to improve the current situation, from maintaining clean sidewalks and tents, neighborhood wide relations, to a potential exit strategy — an alternative to what the city had been planning (moving them further from downtown).

One of the residents, Anna, was very enthusiastic and involved in the conversations. At the end of the meeting, she mentioned that her handicapped husband, along with many other people, were frustrated with the lack of maintenance in the site, as falling leaves and mud had been accumulating on the sidewalks to the point that it was too slippery to walk on. Especially going to port-a-potty in the middle of the night. So, we decided to go to a neighbor’s house, and asked her if we could borrow one of her rakes. She had a half-a-dozen. Even though the neighbor declined, they still had a decent conversation and dialogue with each other.

At the end of the day, Anna got her rake, and we believed that we took the first step of many to improving neighborhood relationship through community organization and clean up. We bought her a rake and it made her gasp with joy. It made her day, if not her week.

Having done thousands of hours of community organizing in my day, the way that it works in this case is that it is very cumulative, and the effectiveness from week to week goes up rapidly but not at the first meeting.

'Community organizing is all about building grassroots support. It's about identifying the people around you with whom you can create a common, passionate cause. And it's about ignoring the conventional wisdom of company politics and instead playing the game by very different rules.'

— Tom Peters

That is, this first meeting is just the tip of the iceberg, i.e., there is only a tiny bit of collective functionality, a sense of belonging and positive identity that comes from it if any. Subsequently, you give a write up to all about what a great meeting it was, and people start to think about what they might have missed, where they can fit in, what decisions might have been made or be made without them and what key opinions are missing — then they will want to get involved. Usually, not a lot of opinions are missing. In fact, there is a lot of repetition, but get people signed up to do talks and start to embrace the new culture of accountability and cleanliness. Eventually, the iceberg floats higher and higher until most of it is exposed.

Now many folks are contributing, raking the sidewalk, cleaning up trash and litter, and talking to each other about common guidelines and etiquettes “we have agreed not to do that,” which will be continuously fostered by the previous discussions and agreements. This eventually can lead to more feelings of mutual accountability, most importantly to each other — “Hey Joe, we told the neighbors that we wouldn’t make that much noise,” people helping those having health difficulties, making dinner for each other, and setting standards for healthier living, including tent management, noise, and litter.

The next thing to do in Eugene, like everywhere else, is to find local community organizers to help with community-wide relations, help the tent community itself and its inhabitants, and to plan for an exit strategy. “How are we going to interface with the City so that they will listen to us?” This is how — by getting organized.

This story is about empowerment. People talk a lot about what is needed is structural change of one kind or another — as if that is going to happen from the entitled down, and whatever “structural change” means. Those big changes do not happen in the U.S. and too many are waiting for structural change. Change in America happens at a glacial pace — one state law, one city resolution, one meeting at a time and one march at a time. But it does happen if we get organized. Change will happen for homelessness in the U.S., but it will keep getting worse until people get organized. Not just to create demands, but to practice initiative, to be a part of the solution themselves, and to march.

There is so much potential there. Yes, we should clean up the camp; yes, we should take care of each other; yes, we should make the neighbors feel more comfortable — but then march to Salem, the capital of Oregon — all 10,000 of you plus supporters. It worked for gay pride, it worked for civil rights and languishing in the mud will not work for you. It is completely wrong that the good city of Eugene should suffer the brunt — for trying to be helpful. Every city in Oregon should be required to have at least one decent community (see A Solution to Homelessness in Your Town). Instead, people flock to Eugene away from where they grew up to get a decent meal on Sunday morning.

There are amazing groups of people in Eugene doing amazing work for people who are experiencing homelessness. It is mostly crisis work, medical emergencies, and donations, to keep people from starving, freezing, and dying which is happening all too frequently. What is needed in addition is more global organizing. One rake at a time, one march at a time, and then soon these cries will be heard, and acted on — but only if we can find some community organizers to help.

Thank you,

Chuck & Nadthachai

New Book in the Works: One Life - Live It

Charles Durrett was inspired by a community for people with intellectual disabilities in Iceland. It is called Solheimar and it was founded in the 1930’a by Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir. When Charles visited in October 2019, he decided to start a book about this astonishing place. Now, the goal is to have the book completed by July 2020, so it can be presented on Solheimar’s 90th Anniversary.

Here’s a clip from the introduction:
“…For so many reasons, this place is a haven. Everyone refers to each other as a friend. It may seem like a small detail, but yes, in this case I do believe that the semantics make a difference. Starting with the forty-five ‘clients’ (for far lack of a better term) who, with their families, are motivated to see people have a better, more fulfilled life. I’ve never seen people, in this case social workers, invoke love and appreciation for others so readily and predictably as here. They have clearly embraced the notion that these are friends, and we are all equal. The workshops that Solheimar residents participate in include candle making, gardening, tree planting, weaving, ceramics, photography, visual arts, wood working, and drama…

In telling this story, I want to be honest and clear because there is a lot to be proud of in Iceland, from the local government to the people who work and live here. My hope is that this project will become a model and an inspiration for similar projects in the U.S., Canada, and the rest of the world. Too often there is too much humanity left on the table for those with neurological challenges, and as a result, people in need are literally wasting away. This place can teach us so much about the future...”

The name of the book is One Life – Live it, and for those who know the neurologically challenged and the lifestyle choices they can face, hopefully you’ll appreciate the title. It is the opposite of “Let’s leave lives potential behind – Let’s give up.”

Valley View Senior Housing receives certificate for Green Building

The Cohousing Company is pleased to announce that our recent project in American Canyon, California, has received the designation of being ‘Green Point Rated’ for its environmentally conscious design.  The certification was provided Build It Green, a membership supported non-profit that promotes healthy, energy and resource efficient homes in California.

Construction was completed on Valley View in 2019, and the community includes 70-units that house low-income residents, all over the age of 55. From the beginning, the design was intended to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Important elements include:

·       A passive heating and cooling system that includes units with double-pane windows on each side to slow heat from entering the houses

·       Thick gypsum board and concrete slabs for thermal mass, taking advantage of diurnal temperature variations

·       Cool roofs to reflect and emit heat

·       Large porch designs that include ample shading

·       Creative use of outdoor space that takes advantage of the moderate American Canyon climate

·       A solar-covered parking area that helps offset the energy consumption of the community

·       Native and drought-tolerant plants throughout the site, ensuring that watering requirements are as low as possible.

Valley View is also set up for a graywater irrigation system that will take wastewater from washing machines and repurpose it for irrigation use. This feature hasn’t been utilized yet but will in the future. They will also be receiving recycled water from the city in the future for irrigation use. Permeable surfaces are also located on the site, helping to replenish groundwater and aid in erosion and pollution control by allowing runoff to enter the underlying soil.

The rating system is administered by independent professionals who are trained and certified by Build It Green, and we’re proud to have met their high standards for sustainability! Cost control is always an important factor in our projects, and this award demonstrates that cohousing can be done in an environmentally conscious way and still be cost effective.

A Special Holiday Offer from the Cohousing Company

It’s tough to sort through all those Black Friday deals, but how about bringing an old notion back into circulation? Books are wonderful holiday gifts—they are easy to wrap, ship, personalize and even re-gift! Plus they let you express something you care about to someone you know.

Let this holiday season offer more then turkey, lots of pie and spendy gifts. Books are the perfect solution to holiday giving that have the potential for meaning, and hey, if if you miss the mark, there is nothing easier to re-gift than a book. On the other side of this equation, books are also amazingly easy to personalize. What could be a nicer gift than a new idea, or the impetus to change or grow? Books offer the power to think differently, invite culture change and unhinge stuck patterns.

Just now many people are talking about living, cohousing, senior lifestyles and just how to find affordable housing or meaningful community. The Cohousing Co., with McCamant & Durrett Architects, is making it easier than ever to give books with new ideas that have the power to change culture and enrich lives.

Cohousing and coliving have been much in the news over the past year with references to “The Golden Girls” as retirees look for new ways to find meaningful and affordable ways to live during retirement. Then of course, there are families who want more than an impersonal, isolated suburban lifestyle.
If you or someone you know has thought about cohousing, is up for a life change or simply wants to learn about new trends, a book on cohousing could be the gift that opens a mind and shares real possibilities.

The Cohousing Company and McCamant & Durrett Architects want to help you share this big idea with a time and money saving promise: cohousing books The Senior Cohousing Handbook: A Community Approach to Independent Living or Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities can be sent to your friends gift-wrapped with no shipping or wrapping fees anywhere in The US or Canada. McCamant & Durrett Architects will wrap and send the book for free to the address you specify from November 25 until December 31, 2019. Please use the offer code COHOUSING on your order at http://www.cohousingco.com/products.

Is Communal Living A Better Option For Seniors To Have An Active Lifestyle?

By Guest Blogger, Jordan Fuller

Photo by Garry Knight

As we age, nothing is more important than taking care of our health. Now, that doesn’t mean we should only focus on our physical health. As the cliche goes, we must care for our mind, body, and soul to fully enjoy life as a senior. 

But for most seniors, finding the best way to live could be the biggest boost to their overall health and life satisfaction. When faced with the choice of living alone or inside a communal environment or cohousing, it is vital to understand that experiencing life with others can lead to more happiness, a more active brain, and better nutrition.

Why Should I Live in a Community?

A study produced by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 found that individuals who continue to participate in social activities with friends and families as they get older show higher retention of cognitive abilities.

 The type of programs, routinely found in senior living communities, allow residents to stay active. It is helping them to preserve a higher quality of life that keeps the mind sharp and the body active. There are some helpful activities such as playing golf, swimming, exercising, etc. that keep the seniors' lifestyle active.

There are several benefits to living in a senior community worth highlighting.

The first is the assortment of programs that are available to residents. The programs are designed to keep the individual active in a communal setting that encourages interaction with others. Even if you suffer from mobility or cognitive issues, the programs are built to be accommodating to everyone.

Another benefit of living in a communal environment is the opportunity to give back to other populations through volunteering. From reading to creating crafts, to helping children or other seniors at local hospitals, volunteering can be excellent for enhancing your purpose in life.

An overlooked aspect of living close to others is how beneficial it can be for your body through improved nutrition. Seniors are vulnerable to poor eating through isolation and lack of mobility, but this can be remedied by creating a support system that actively works toward creating balanced nutrition for the community.

The community exists to help everyone increase the quality of their own lives. Through enjoyable social interaction such as working out together and enhanced nutrition, individuals living in a senior community find a focus that improves their quality of life.

Why is Living in a Community Better than Isolation?

Isolation for seniors can contribute to a lack of social interaction that leads to depression and a drop in life satisfaction. If you are facing issues such as limited transportation, health issues, family and friends that live far away or the sudden loss of loved ones, living in a community can help alleviate significant burdens allowing you to concentrate on finding fulfilling experiences in a social setting.

Even if you prefer to live alone for privacy purposes, living within a senior community can provide a balance of individual engagement coupled with a collection of loving, like-minded people looking to support each other to create the best life possible.

Fighting loneliness and isolation is crucial for renewing your purpose in life as well as dramatically helping you maintain your independence as you get older, this is why community living is so appealing to seniors.

About the Author

Jordan Fuller is a golf coach and owns a golf publication site knows as https://www.golfinfluence.com. He got his passion for golf when he was a kid during the days when his parents bring him along to their play. He loves to teach amateurs, especially seniors, who needed to have an active lifestyle. https://www.facebook.com/golfinfluence/.

Jordan Fuller