Why we want the option to move to a cohousing community
Cohousing will not solve Ireland’s housing crisis on its own, but it could become one of the most important pieces of the jigsaw. File picture
For many years, my wife Liz and I have lived in a wonderful family home in Blackrock in Cork. It is the house where we raised our children, celebrated birthdays, welcomed friends and built a lifetime of memories.
Like so many people in their fifties and sixties, we have reached a new chapter in our lives. Our children have grown and moved on. Retirement is appearing on the horizon.
And increasingly, we have begun asking ourselves a simple question: Do we really need this big house anymore? The answer, for us, is no.
But that does not mean we want to move into an apartment block or isolate ourselves from the community we love. We don’t want to give up our independence or sacrifice our quality of life. We want to create a future that is connected and fulfilling.
That is why have become involved in creating Cork’s first cohousing community. We had decided to explore living with like-minded people in a community where we would be independent, have our own front door, but still be connected and contribute.
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We wanted to right-size to a home that would be easier to maintain, energy efficient and designed with the future in mind.
When we saw an article about plans to establish the first cohousing community in Ireland a lightbulb went off. This is exactly what we wanted.
Initially we thought if such a community was established in Dublin, we would move there. And then we decided why not work with Cohousing Communities Ireland to establish a community in Cork.
What we are seeking is something very traditional and deeply Irish, recreating the spirit of meitheal, that sense of neighbourliness and co-operation that was once commonplace in communities throughout the country.
The irony is that while Ireland is gripped by a housing crisis, many people like us are trapped in homes that no longer suit our needs. Every year, around 70,000 people in Ireland turn 50, joining the 1.76 million people already over that age. By 2030, more than two million people will be aged over 50.
At the same time, Ireland has the highest level of housing under-occupancy in the European Union. Nearly 90% of people over the age of 65 are living in homes officially classified as under-occupied.
This is often misunderstood. Older people are not stubbornly holding onto houses that younger families need. There simply isn’t anywhere suitable for them to move to.
We know countless people who would gladly move tomorrow if the right option existed. They are not looking for luxury developments.
They are, like us, ordinary people who have worked hard all their lives, built up equity in modest homes and simply want somewhere manageable, affordable to run and future-proofed for the years ahead.
That is exactly what cohousing offers. Originating in Denmark in the 1960s, cohousing has become a well-established housing option across countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
Residents own their own homes but share communal spaces and actively participate in creating a vibrant neighbourhood.
There are opportunities for shared meals, gardening, book clubs, walking groups and countless informal interactions that help combat one of the greatest challenges of later life: loneliness.
Research consistently tells us that social connection is one of the strongest predictors of good physical and mental health as we age.
Cohousing communities can benefit everyone. Every larger family home that is released back onto the market creates opportunities for younger families desperately trying to put down roots in their own communities.
For the State, cohousing can support healthy ageing and potentially reduce future pressures on health and social care services.
For communities, it creates active, engaged citizens who volunteer, participate and contribute.
The demand is there.
Across Ireland, more than 350 people have already registered their interest through Cohousing Communities Ireland, and groups are actively emerging in Dublin, Westport and here in Cork.
But significant barriers remain with access to land perhaps the greatest challenge.
State agencies, local authorities and the Land Development Agency have land that could help unlock community-led housing projects.
Planning policy also needs to catch up. Housing for people over 50 should be recognised as a distinct category, much as student accommodation is today.
Financing must evolve too.
The recent Central Bank decision around bridging finance is an important step, but banks now need to develop products that allow older homeowners to make the transition from family homes into cohousing communities.
Ireland cannot continue to treat housing as a one-size-fits-all issue.
People have different housing needs at different stages of life.
My wife and I know what we want for our future. We have reared our family and now we want to simplify our lives without shrinking them.
We want to remain independent without becoming isolated. We want to contribute to a community while still enjoying our own space.
Most of all, we want to age well. Thousands of others across Ireland feel exactly the same.
Cohousing will not solve Ireland’s housing crisis on its own, but it could become one of the most important pieces of the jigsaw.
We simply need the political vision and courage to make it happen.
If you would like to know more about the opportunity of living in a cohousing community, you are very welcome to join us next Wednesday, June 25, at 7pm on our Information Webinar – Cohousing Communities for 50+. Register on cohousingcommunities.ie
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