Prospective Members
What makes a housing co-op different from a group of housemates?
A housing co-op is different from a group of roommates in a number of ways.
Longevity
A group of roommates may move on, leaving one person to try either to find new roommates, or decide to leave. A co-op provides for some consistency: the co-op may continue, even if there is 100% turnover in the membership.
Communal Meals
House meals can be the glue that holds the co-op together, as opposed to disparate housemates, who frequently prepare food only for themselves.
Resource Sharing
Living in a cooperative means that there is no need for everyone to own their own set of dishes, buy all their own food, buy their own cleaning supplies, etc. Money is saved and resources are conserved by sharing.
Shared Labor
By setting up an orderly division of labor, housing co-ops make sure that everyone does their share and no one gets stuck with all the work. Also, rather than each person having to do their own shopping every week, this arduous chore rotates among the house members.
Community
Roommates may merely co-habitate without actually interacting. Housing co-op members establish an intentional community together.
What will my financial commitment be?
The financial commitment you'll need to make will vary from house to house, but will always include: room charges (rent), utilities, and food (on a monthly basis). Your financial commitment may also include the fees to join COUCH and NASCO (both very reasonable, one-time fees). For example, if you want to live at Harvest, you will need to pay your membership to COUCH and NASCO, and your security deposit (equal to one month's rent) before you move in; once you move in, you'll pay a monthly member charge that includes your rent, utilities, and food charges.
What will my time commitment be?
Again, this will vary from co-op to co-op, but a few things will remain constant. First, you will be required to cook or help with cooking a house meal multiple times per month. You will also be required to help clean up after dinner several times per month. There are house chores, typically done weekly. There are also house jobs, such as treasurer, garden coordinator, membership coordinator, etc., that will also require time input. All in all, expect to put between 20 and 40 hours per month into your co-op, and remember: the more time everyone puts in, the better a living place it will be.
Can I get a short-term lease?
Other than in special cases, the standard lease period for the COUCH houses is one year (beginning in August). If you want to live in a COUCH house for a time period less than this, you will need to find a suitable replacement who is willing not only to take over your lease, but also your co-op responsibilities. If you can continue paying your rent but need to leave early, you will need to make arrangements with your housemates to find a suitable solution.
Do I have to be vegetarian/vegan?
You do not. Although all of the COUCH houses are vegetarian-friendly, you do not have to be vegetarian to live there, nor do you have to be vegetarian to appreciate a vegetarian dinner. The houses have differing policies regarding meat (some do not allow it at all, some allow it on the premesis if it's cooked, etc.); it would be best to contact them individually to see which one would fit best with your dietary preferences.
Do I have to be a socialist/anarchist/communist/leftist/whatever?
Each of the COUCH houses is as diverse as its membership, so you do not have to subscribe to any set worldview to function well in a co-op. The most helpful qualities for living in a co-op are openness to others' viewpoints, and respect for the differences that make people unique and interesting. That said, we will admit that co-op houses around the country do tend to run a bit left of center, but that does vary depending on where you go.