UNIT4

1	Cohousing is a special kind of group housing.  It began in Denmark many years ago.  Today it is becoming popular all over the world.  When people start a cohousing community, they are usually strangers.  However, they have the same dream.  They donft want to live alone.  They want to live in a community.  They want close relationships with their neighbors.
2	Both the individual and the group are important in cohousing communities.  Individuals own and live in separate houses, but the community owns all of the land.  The houses are very close together.  There arenft any fences between them.  In front of the houses, there is usually a large open area.  Everyone in the community can use that area.  Children can play there.  Other residents can walk or ride their bikes there.
3	The common house is the center of the cohousing community.  The common house is a house that all of the residents own together.  Most common houses have a large dining room and kitchen.  Residents cook and eat together there once or twice a week.  There are also play areas for children and recreation areas for adults, a guest room, and a laundry room.
4	The residents of the cohousing community are like one big family.  They take care of the common land.  They often eat together.  When a resident has a problem, the neighbors help.  They drive a sick neighbor to the doctor, or take care of a neighborfs children.  And in most cohousing communities, there are people of all ages, from the very young to the very elderly.
5	Most residents of cohousing are very happy.  They love the community life.  However, cohousing is not a good choice for everyone.  Residents of cohousing communities make decisions together.  For example, they meet and decide how to take care of the common areas.  They also decide how often they will eat together.  Then everyone agrees to follow the groupfs decision.  If you donft like to make decisions in a group, you will probably not be happy in a cohousing community.  Also, if you like to spend a lot of time alone, cohousing is probably not a good choice for you.
