OUR PROCESS
1. Future cohousing residents are asked to fill out a detailed intake form that allows us to gather pertinent data and details that we need for adequate MATCHMAKING for creating potential groups.
2. When we have identified a potential group, the selected members will be asked to attend a SEED MEETING. At this meeting members will be introduced and engage in a facilitated discussion to determine if there is enough interest and alignment to continue the process together. A core group identified in this manner is now called an AFFINITY GROUP, and receives their Ottawa Cohousing Guidebooks.
3. The newly created AFFINITY GROUP participates in a series of group work meetings (modules as outlined in the Guidebook) in order to accomplish three parallel tasks:
-
BECOMING A COMMUNITY Ottawa Cohousing leads the group through a series of group development steps that will determine and inform their social organization, legal documentation, governance, recruitment, etc.
-
FINDING A SITE **The Affinity Group refines their site selection criteria, and reviews site options as they become available and as schematic analyses are provided by the architect, Rosaline Hill.
-
ASSEMBLING A DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND FINANCING STRUCTURE With each potential site, Ottawa Cohousing introduces a project team and financing strategy. Sometimes the project manager will be the developer who owns the site.
​
4. In order to move ahead, the Affinity Group must select a site AND agree to the proposed development team and financing structure. Ottawa Cohousing will oversee the preparation of agreements and contracts. Papers will be signed. Deposits will be paid.
​
5. During design, city approvals and construction phases, Ottawa Cohousing acts as a liaison between the Affinity Group and the development professionals.
6. After construction is finished and residents have moved in, Ottawa Cohousing is available to assist the new cohousing community with a variety of services that they may want to call upon, depending on the needs of the community.
​
For example, assistance with the sale or rental of units, maintenance plans, community facilitation and/or mediation services.
​
** Ottawa Cohousing is constantly seeking suitable sites for cohousing development. Once found, we move quickly to either present the site to an established Affinity Group, or if we find a juicy site first, we will move fast to pull together potential residents from our Roster to see if we can form an Affinity Group suitable to that particular site.
