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1.1 What is a co-op, anyway?
Good question...and probably the hardest of the bunch! According to the International Cooperative Alliance Statement of Cooperative Identity (adopted September 1995),
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.
The modern cooperative movement is based on the Rochdale principles [from the same source]:
More specifically, Laurel House is a housing cooperative in which the members who live at the house contribute the operation of the house by paying rent, doing labor (to keep costs down!), and making house policies.
Perhaps, it might also be useful to point out what the co-op is not. The co-op is not a "hippie commune"; while we often eat and work together, we all have our own individual rooms that can be as private as each member wants. Also, the co-op is not actually jointly owned by its members (although members do have a say in its management) since it is property of College House, Inc., and hence it is not a "socialistic commune" in that sense. The co-op also does not promote any kind of specific political/social agenda (other than supporting the cooperative movement) and does not indoctrinate its members with any such agenda.
1.2 What are the advantages of living in a housing co-op?
In my humble opinion, the primary advantages at living at a housing co-op are:
For most, the latter is the most important and probably what most distinguishes a cooperative from simply a group of people that live near each other. Because members interact with each other while doing labor, eating meals, etc., they get to know each other and often build friendships that outlast their stay at the co-op (more than one couple have met, courted, and engaged!). By having a common goal, the co-op moves from simply being "a house" to being "our house." In addition, Laurel House has the particular advantages that it is located close to campus, maintains a quiet living environment, and usually has quite a diverse and interesting group of folks as members. Also, Laurel House is small enough that everyone knows everyone else but still large enough so that you don't have to see the same small group of people day in and day out.
1.3 What are some of the disadvantages to living in a co-op?
In my humble opinion, the primary disadvantages of living at a housing co-op are:
While the people are probably one of the most praised aspects of the co-op, they are often the most complained about too! As in any group of people, some of the people will simply not get along. It is in some ways like a loose "extended family" in which the "siblings" sometimes are friendly (even cooperative!) but sometimes quarrel about petty and not-so-petty things. While generally problems can worked out on an individual or house level, often people just get tired of tolerating the "weird beliefs" of others, and this is one of the reasons that people cite for leaving (see Exit Survey results for more details).
1.4 I don't know if I would like living at the co-op. How can I decide?
Well, it's hard to give a general rule but here are some factors to consider:
If you are still unsure, please contact the membership coordinator at the email address listed above.
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Laurel House Co-op / Austin, Texas, USA / last updated 28 March 2005