Collective Lifestyles: a Housing Alternative
Collective housing lifestyles have been around for decades, if not a millennium. They have been a way for people to create a foundation for life in many cultures. For instance, in Israel, Kibbutz’s were and are a way of living collectively; relying on others for social and physical support. Currently, there are 270 Kibbutzim’s, the name for the village life, in Israel. https://youtu.be/RIf2f77tjJ8
Meanwhile in some European countries, communal and collective living has been established as a reaction to the normalized individualistic lifestyles and loss of community. As well, the shared values of an economically sustainable life within many of the collective households has also contributed to there growing popularity. As quoted from Maria Tornqvist in her article, Living Alone Together: Individualized Collectivism in Swedish Communal Housing, the shift to communal and collective living was marked by:
“demographic changes and escalating housing prices, as well as through shifting lifestyle choices and rising eco-political awareness. Within urban, environmental, and sociological studies, the topic of communal living, in this broad sense, is framed as central to some of the most urgent challenges of our time.”
Törnqvist, M. (2019). Living Alone Together: Individualized Collectivism in Swedish Communal Housing. Sociology, 53(5), 900–915. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038519834871
This echoes much of what has motivated many lives here in Metro Vancouver as well as other parts of British Columbia. Shifts in demographics, such as large swaths of millennials needing housing, and escalating living costs contributed to an “out of the box” solution for home seekers. Currently, there are 70 established collective homes around the Lower Mainland. Unlike having a roommate, a collective house/home participates and contributes to the household. It isn’t only about reducing the housing costs and keeping your separate goods in your specific part of the fridge.
“It is about sharing resources and being there for each other.” says Travis Clifford, the moderator of the Vancouver Housing Collective Network.
Based on other relevant studies, loneliness has become an epidemic health issue in many first world countries. Living with others may well increase our survival rate. It has actually been shown that living alone can be detrimental to our health. It can bring on depression, dementia, and heart disease. [1] It literally has been equated with smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
In these current COVID-19 conditions, we have heard about multitudes of seniors dying alone in long term care facilities during this pandemic. This brings up the question of how can we change these outcomes. Can collective living shine a light on what we need to reconsider for future housing alternatives.
[1] https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/the-facts-on-loneliness/
Theresa K. Howell
See Change MAKERS interviewed three individuals associated with the Collective Housing Movement in Metro Vancouver; Vanessa Wirth, Travis Clifford, and Scott Burgess. They discussed their storied experiences as they relate to living in Collective Housing as well as some of the challenges. Listen for more with the latest PODCAST.
Since the podcast aired, there have been some significant updates with regards to rental housing in Vancouver. Rents are decreasing.
In a recent Vancouver Sun article, Douglas Todd, a local award-winning journalist, writes that rents have dropped by 15%. Meanwhile, in Toronto, there have been drops of up to 5%. Todd points to many factors that affect this downturn. For more info: Vancouver Sun article.
Some important links mentioned throughout the PODCAST;
Vancouver COLLECTIVE HOUSING FACEBOOK NETWORK