Housing Design and Governance

KEY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

1. Care will most likely be delivered through a network of 5 IDLA apartments (Individually Designed Living Arrangements). We are a central apartment site so that interaction is easy, and care is shared for mutual benefit through paid and unpaid caregivers.*
2. There is a physical club house that serves multiple purposes, most important of which is that it functions as a welcoming gathering space for Co-op members and visitors. The space permits use for a variety of events (music, talks, plays, potlucks), activities, classes, meetings, and celebrations of life and passages. It could include a small library/video space, computer/internet space, maybe a game area, maybe simple workout equipment, possibly therapy space. It is an extension of each home.
3. All homes and the common areas will strive to be universally designed for physical assistance, environmentally designed for behavioral competence and set up to encourage "green" practices.
4. ACME Co-op is within walking, biking or short bus ride distance of retailers for basic goods and services, e.g., grocery store, theater, parks, pharmacy, postal substation, barber/salon, hardware, coffee shop, café, ice cream store, library, bank/ATMs. Members will be encouraged to participate in community mapping project.
5. The ACME Co-op Board of Directors will support education, training, enrichment activities or even several micro-enterprises through it's not-for profit section, which would provide support maintenance and growth of the community or provide income for any interested co-op member.
6. The internal community of ACME, through its general members and Board of Directors, actively seeks collaborations (social, recreational, business, non-profit organizations, churches, senior/civic groups, volunteer groups) that enhance reciprocal and ongoing interactions with the larger community.
7. Each member's role requires active membership. The highest emphasis is placed on the participation of the non-residents (family, long time friends and relatives) for the householder(s). Significant cooperation in terms of time and skills will be required of the families/circles of friends. **

HOUSING

All homes associated with ACME Co-op would be united under a cooperative structure of governance. (See co-operative principles at www.ica.coop)

1. The ACME Cooperative Board of Directors will interface formally with the Tucson community, have a financial oversight/management role of the co-op and vote on policy. The board will comprise either a parent, guardian, advocate,friend or householder(s) from each home as well as one voting representative from the paid caregivers. Interested persons of the larger community of Tucson are welcome to attend general membership meetings without having a vote and may be invited onto the Board of Advisors.
2. The ACME Cooperative general membership made up of remaining householder(s), parents, guardians, siblings, house mates and caregivers, will handle on-site network issues; the inevitable problem-solving, programming for community events, and draft policy for consideration and final vote by the Board of Directors. Provider/agency/vendor input will be included as appropriate.
3. Each household will deal with household management, maintenance, activities, interaction issues, daily life, chores, etc. House-specific meetings comprising householder(s) and house mates are encouraged to be scheduled at least bi-weekly.

Household structure

Each home will be different, as its character will be defined by its householder(s) and house mate ( if applicable). All the homes, however, will operate within the overall philosophy and values (8 Habits of Heart) adopted by the ACME Co-op as a community and within the guidelines established by the members and by the Board of Directors.

The house mate without a disability might provide a household "executive" function. That is, this individual will guide and monitor the householder(s), helping to organize, facilitating but not doing for, or making choices and decisions that the householder(s) can make themselves. The house mates will be responsible for ensuring the maintenance, physical cleanliness, and safety of the home. He or she will provide guidance in how to live a healthy lifestyle and follow good environmental practices (e.g., nutrition, exercise, presentation, recycling, etc.). The house mate will be expected to accomplish this not only by discussion, but especially by example. The house mate works in consultation with the householder's non-resident support, and Board of Directors. The house mate also coordinates with other members of the co-op as well and the paid caregivers who will be in the home on a day-to-day basis. The house mate most likely will receive free rent and may evolve into a paid caregiver position in some instances.

Training will be encouraged for all co-op members in positive group communication, and other training/consultation deemed appropriate for working with the householder(s).

Services to support the needs of individual householder(s) are provided by agencies like DDD, CPSA, Qualified Vendors like Southern Arizona Family Services or by another agency of each team's choice. Sometimes support is by private pay, whatever is applicable for the householder(s).

Household size

In general, households should include no more than 2 individuals if single or 3 if a couple is involved. To support individual choice and privacy, each individual will have his/her own room, but will share a bath, kitchen, dining room, living room, outdoors, future porch and utility/storage spaces, and for which all individuals living in the household are responsible. Each individual can decorate and furnish his/her room according to personal tastes, and each is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the home and grounds, with oversight by the non-residents and/or house mate if there is one. This is needed to ensure both safety and cleanliness. Decisions about pets are made by a vote of the Board of Directors.

Becoming a householder(s)

When a home comes open, the existing householder(s) and their Board Member, select from among the applicants. Applicants must meet criteria set by the Cooperative with guidance from the Board of Directors. For more info, see Join With Us. Criteria will not include severity of a householder's disability.

Becoming a house mate

House mates are selected by an individual householder(s) and their support persons. It is recommended that a 2-week to one-month trial period to assess goodness of fit from the perspectives of both existing householder(s) and the prospective house mate be arranged. They next enter a 3-month probationary period. Only after this time would a new house mate be offered the opportunity to stay permanently. The general membership will develop a procedure for handling difficult house mate problems that arise after an individual becomes part of the community.

"HOUSEMATES: A Guide to Cooperative Share Housing" by Lori Stephens is available for discussion and problem solving from a Board Member.

House meetings are encouraged as a regular activity.

Co-op Principles

Co-op principles were first stated by the Rochdale pioneers in 1844. The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.

1. Voluntary and open member-ownership
2. Democratic member-owner control
3. Member-owner economic participation
4. Autonomy and independence
5. Education, training and information
6. Cooperation among cooperatives
7. Concern for community

The ACME Co-op vision is to enhance the lives of people with multiple disabilities, their families and their caregivers by providing a living and learning community where individuals can receive a lifetime (if they choose to) of support that is both affordable and self-sustaining.

* IDLA is the name used to provide money for habilitation needed by consumers living outside of their family home and not in a group home. The money comes from DES/DDD. See your support coordinator for more information.

** The householder(s) level of function or "fit" is not a consideration as much as the presence of an active family or circle of friends.

*** dd 06/2007 original

****dd&vs 3/2008