How To Find Great Communal Housing Near Seattle

Looking for an social and eco-friendly way to live in near Seattle? Communal housing is a way to reduce your carbon footprint and live with people that share your values.

We’ve put together some great recourses to make it easier to find communal housing options in near Seattle, especially during this difficult time.

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What is Communal Housing?

Communal housing, or cohousing, “is a conceptual framework for organizing a community” according to Seattle Urban Cohousing. It often involves neighbors sharing common spaces, meals, and everyday duties including childcare and home maintenance.

Some of the key features, according to Cohousing Association of the United States, include:

• Connected relationships
• Smaller footprint
• Private homes
• Commons spaces
• Participation
• Shared values

The Benefits of Communal Housing

Why try communal housing?

For starters, communal housing or cohousing can be more cost efficient, depending on the size and type of home. While the cost of the home itself may vary, many cohousing arrangements include sharing expenses for water, electricity, internet, groceries, and home maintenance. Over time, these savings can be significant.

Further, cohousing is often multi-generational, with residents of ages living together. This can mean built-in childcare, elderly care, and sick care.

Shared values

There’s also the social aspect. Communal housing neighbors often share a core set of values.

A sense of environmentalism and living lighter is common in communal living. According to cohousing.org, “Community means sharing more and consuming less. Collaborating on everything from green technology to recycling makes it all easier.”

Further, finding communal housing in Seattle may make it easier to ditch your gas-guzzling care. Many cohousing options are near public transportation and within walking distance of grocery stores and other vital infrastructure.

Finding Communal Housing Near Seattle

Seattle is one of the most expensive cities for housing in the United States. However, it also has a healthy selection of communal housing options.

If your looking for cohousing near Seattle — or across Washington State — this list from Cohousing.org is a great place to start!

Cohousing in Washington State

Further cohousing resources

Also, you may want to search the directory at Foundation for Intentional Community. (Note: This site does not seem to be as updated as cohousing.org.)

Finally, if you are looking for an urban modern twist on communal housing, check out Common. This directory lists apartments with shared spaces and amenities, which can drastically reduce the cost of rent.

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Feature photo by Rob Bye on Unsplash