A pair of single moms from Washington, D.C. agreed on a cohousing arrangement and bought a four-unit apartment together to create a "kid paradise" that eased the burden of their living arrangement.
Holly Harper and Herrin Hopper said that their cohousing plan had been a life-changing decision that helped them financially and made their children, between the ages of nine to 13 years old, very happy and contented.
In a piece on Insider, Harper wrote that she and Hopper also invested in renovating their units to fit the personal needs of every family member. Thus, their apartments feature a shared giant trampoline, an exciting parkour line, a craft studio, a big-screen television, a home gym, and a beautiful garden. They still maintained private homes, but they had many shared rooms between two families.
Benefits of Living with Another Single Mom
Harper said that she always loved the idea of familial community, such as the ones in the TV series "The Golden Girls." An opportunity to establish her "commune dream" presented itself when she divorced in 2018.
While a realtor told the single mom that she might have mad ideas about a cohousing living arrangement, Harper found Hopper, who was willing to get aboard their new housing journey. Harper said that her arrangement with her friend worked because they both approached their situation like "a platonic spouse," and they carefully reviewed their finances to make sure that they buy a house that would also fit their budget.
Harper and Hopper also ensured that everything was legal in their cohousing arrangement. They are co-investors of the apartment, but they are also "tenants in common."
Apart from their cohousing ideas, Harper and Hopper also clicked because they have the same parenting style, politics, and lifestyle. With five kids between them, along with two dogs and three hamsters, Harper said that their kids are thriving after the divorce and have friends for life, who make them feel "safe, loved, and grounded in the family."
The single moms carpool together, have regular potlucks, and even share in the expenses of the house's upkeep. They both agreed that they have "never been happier" in their lives.
What is CoHousing?
According to Cohousing.Org, this arrangement covers collaborative spaces like gardens, recreational areas, dining rooms, and a kitchen within several private homes. Its core concept builds on connected relationships and shared values. It also promotes a smaller carbon footprint to help the environment.
Cohousing is more commonly seen in senior facilities or multigenerational families. It's a new concept to Americans, but it has been popular in Denmark since the 1970s.
According to Kaiser Foundation, cohousing communities have become a "godsend" during the pandemic because it prevented feelings of loneliness and boredom among many elderly Americans. Elizabeth Magill, 60, who lives in a cohousing community in Massachusetts, said that all she had to do was come out to her porch, and someone would join and sit with her.
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