Vancouver Collective House Network

VCHNetwork is Growing and your work is a part of it

2012-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

What could this Network BE?
What do you want to see here?

Skills Database
Map/Listing of Collective Houses
List of Facilitators available to support Collective Houses (forming, visioning, conflict resolution)
Updates on Advocacy, or for that matter... Advocacy
Workshop Descriptions and notes from past workshops
add your contribution HERE

Voices at City Hall are interested in ways to increase the stock of affordable housing in Vancouver. Collective Housing is a part of this picture, and the VCHN has skills to share!

If you think you'd like to get involved with increasing the visibility and awsomeness of the Vancouver Collective House Network SEND US AN EMAIL with your questions / thoughts / skills / ideas. vancouverchn -at- gmail -dot- com

We meet regularly and some of us are currently planning another workshop series for early spring 2012. ALL WELCOME.

Aug 4 Workshops a Success!

2011-08-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who supported and participated
in our August 4 Workshops about Collective Housing!
Read about it in this Georgia Straight Article.

Two houses were packed full of people,
leaving the general sense that both workshops
were stimulating and worthwhile. Pictures coming shortly...

Stay tuned for more workshop announcements, and
a b s o l u t e l y g e t i n t o u c h
if you are interested in offering, hosting, or attending any workshops in the future!
Together we are creating supportive community through collective housing.

The VCHNetwork is co-created through contributions of
anyone who would like to be involved. ALL WELCOME.

Thursday, August 4 COLLECTIVE LIVING WORKSHOPS

2011-07-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Collective House Network presents two free opportunities to

learn about collective living. These evening workshops take place
in long-established collective houses in the Commercial Drive area,
and have been sponsored by the Neighbourhood Small Grant Program
via the Vancouver Foundation.

Join us to learn about ways we live together that promote health,
happiness, connectedness and sustainability. Not to mention save money,
tread lightly on the environment, and enjoy life together!

Registration required.
Let us know in advance if you need child-care.
Snacks & bus tickets provided.
Both hosting houses have accessibility challenges (between 10 and 15 stairs).

collective living: how to make it work in a collective house
Thursday, August 4
6:30 – 9pm

This workshop outlines foundational systems and structures that make collective living successful. We’ll look at food & shared meals, work & energy around the home (aka chores), financial options, managing collective projects, and how to start a collective house. Using years of lived experience from within the Collective House Network, within each topic we’ll consider a range of possibilities to prepare you to move forward with the pieces that are right for you. Hosted by the Beehive Collective House.

Workshop followed by a short social, together with participants from "creating welcoming homes" workshop.

creating welcoming homes: anti-oppression and collective housing
Thursday, August 4
6 – 9pm

This workshop explores the social dynamics of the collective house movement, asking some important questions about who we attract to our houses and why. Through anti-oppression exercises and discussion, participants will be invited to strengthen understanding of some of the ways various forms of oppression operate in daily life, developing skills and awareness to create safe, welcoming homes. Hosted by the Bicyclette Rouge Collective House.

Workshop followed by a short social, together with participants from "collective living: how to make it work" workshop.

Facilitator bios for collective living: how to make it work in a collective house
Allison Prime is a sustainability educator, teacher, guide and facilitator who lives at a collective house called cherry tree fort. She is passionate about collective living and loves sharing her passion with the world.

Sara Ross (aka RedSara) lives at the Beehive, and loves the connections and practical life support it provides day to day. She is a community artist and organizer, collective facilitator, and loves to ride her bike into the sunset or the rain!

Facilitator bios for creating welcoming homes: anti-oppression and collective houses
Naava Smolash is a researcher and teacher whose work centres on nationalism, racialization, and antiracism. She has provided workshops on anti-oppression and critical media literacy for grassroots organizations such as SFPIRG, the Otesha Project, and others. She currently teaches a third year literature class on nationalism in Canadian literature at Simon Fraser University, and collaborates with the Press Release collective producing social-movement-based poetry. She has helped found three collective houses, including La Bicyclette Rouge where she currently lives. She is one of the co-founders of the Vancouver Collective House Network.

Anthony Meza-Wilson has lived in many (by last count 9) communal living situations throughout his entire life across North and South America. He has served as faculty at the North American Students of Cooperation Education and Training Institute since 2004 and is thrilled by creating spaces where people freely share skills, ideas, and resources. He is currently working to complete a Master's degree in Educational Studies at UBC where he studies the intersections between anti-authoritarian educational projects and anti-oppression work, particularly decolonization. He loves the wilderness, cats, and red raspberries and frequently drinks far too much coffee.

Collective Houses Workshop Series, launching May 14, 2011

2011-04-07T17:12:00.011-07:00

Vancouver Collective House Network is happy to announce their first Workshop for 2011:

How to Start a Collective House
Saturday, May 14th 2011, noon - 4pm
followed by social tea until 5pm
Hosted by 'Cherry Tree Fort' Collective House.

Facilitated by two members of the Vancouver Collective House Network, with an additional three panelists representing different houses within the Network.

This workshop will answer the basic 'how and why's of Collective Houses, as well as provide examples across the spectrum of different organizational systems that make collective living work. You can expect some guided visioning to support articulating foundational principles for what is important in shared living.

Workshop will be followed by a social tea-time, so people have more opportunities to connect about housing possibilities within the community.

To Get Involved, or to Learn More about upcoming workshops, email vancouverchn (at) gmail.com

Collective Houses Workshop Series Planned

2011-04-07T17:12:00.009-07:00

Vancouver Collective House Network is in the formative stages of creating a Collective Houses Workshop Series for 2011/2012.

So far, in preparation for this Series, we have solicited ideas from folks about what they'd like to learn about, we've talked in person and over email about logistics with a recognition of how much we personally take on, and we've brainstormed a list of topics to pursue.

TOPICS for the Collective Houses Workshop Series include...but are not limited to:

How to Start a Collective House
Supporting Diversity in our Communities: Inclusive Collective Houses
Social Permaculture and Collective Houses
Collective Houses for kids & families
Creating Togetherness (Music, food, projects, etc)
Collective Decision Making: Meetings, Consensus & Communication
Building a Greywater System
Low Impact Living in Collective Houses
Non-Violent Communication (NVC) and Collective Living
Potluck music jam & Collective Living Celebration!

Format for the workshops varies topic to topic, and will include panel discussions, presentations, and hands-on experiential learning.

To Get Involved, or to Learn More about upcoming workshops, email vancouverchn (at) gmail.com

Day of Workshops a Success!

2010-05-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

(read the next few posts to learn more about this inspiring day of workshops)

We packed several houses, fed 60, learned and laughed and shared the joys of collective houses.
Thanks to everyone who helped and attended and came together for this great event.

Check out these stories about the day.

Georgia Straight
Sing Tao
the Tyee
Jack's blog summary

2010-03-12T13:00:00.003-08:00

The Vancouver Collective House Network presents:

A Day of Workshops about Collective Houses on Sunday, April 11, 2010
What are they? How do they work? Why are they so important?

10:30am - 4:30pm

- click to enlarge -

Come to a single workshop, or for the whole day!
FREE to attend and participate.
Delicious vegan lunch provided. Please register for (see sidebar)

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2010-03-12T13:00:00.001-08:00

Schedule: April 11, 2010 Please Register (see sidebar)

10 - 10:30am: Gather, Tea and Registration (bring a mug), 1153 Lakewood Dr
10:30am - noon: Starting and Sustaining a Collective House, 1153 Lakewood Dr
noon - 1pm: free Vegan LUNCH, 1836 William St
1 - 2:30pm: Conflict and Communication, 1836 William St
1 - 2:30pm: The Beauty of Eating Together, 1153 Lakewood Dr
3 - 4:30pm: Buying a House Collectively, 1836 William St
3 - 4:30pm: EcoTour, 1153 Lakewood Dr
4:30 - 6pm: Urban Chicken Tour & Social Time, Starts from 1153 Lakewood Dr.

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2010-03-12T12:52:00.005-08:00

Gathering and Workshop Registration
Begin the day with a cup of tea at the Beehive. Sign up for your preferred workshops.

Time: 10am - 10:30
Location: The Beehive (1153 Lakewood)

Bring a mug!

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2010-03-12T12:52:00.003-08:00

How to Start & Sustain a Collective House
The How's and Why's of Community Living

Time: 10:30am - noon
Location: The Beehive (1153 Lakewood)

This is a panel discussion with members of different collective houses. Topics include the process of starting a house,
choosing housemates, visioning and other strategies to form and maintain a cohesive house. This workshop will also
highlight the individual and community benefits of living collectively, and why we have chosen to live this way.

There will be lots of time for any questions and conversations that arise.

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2010-03-12T12:52:00.001-08:00

The Collective Housing Connection (& Lunch)
A participatory workshop aimed at connecting like-minded individuals
who are seeking to start a collective house or have an existing house
they're looking for others to join.

Time: noon - 1pm
Location: 1836 William St

Food is a simple way to bring people together.
A delicious, vegan meal will be provided.
Bring a plate if you can, or we can hook you up.

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2010-03-12T12:51:00.001-08:00

The Beauty of Eating Together
Systems and Priorities for Sharing Food

Time: 1pm - 2:30
Location: 1153 Lakewood Dr

Most collective houses have spent many hours over several days discussing and sorting out the food systems within their household.
Even still, it is a constantly evolving process. Logistical decisions and schedules for food are but the means to
a wonderful, magical meeting of spirits over a table of lovingly crafted foods. Through this workshop we hope to inspire you
in your pursuit of collective food by providing some ideas, resources, and tools to spark discussion within your own lives.
Hosted by collective house residents. Food tour included.

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2010-03-12T12:50:00.005-08:00

Conflict and Communication
Learn about, discuss, and practice effective communication styles, tips to avoid common pitfalls, and conflict resolution techniques.

Time: 1pm - 2:30
Location: 1836 William St

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to some of the basic principles underlying effective communication and conflict resolution.
First, we will discuss "speech acts," including assessments and assertions; these are the ways in which we use communication to change the
world around us. We will explore how to make the intention behind communication explicit, and practice ways to communicate effectively.
We'll also talk about avoiding common pitfalls of daily interaction, such as giving unsolicited advice. After an activity and a short break,
we will move on to the psychology of interpersonal power. Having deconstructed the grammar of human conflict (including what to expect
in a typical argument), we will practice "VOMPing" - a conflict resolution technique. Finally, we'll wrap up by discussing this technique's
relationship to the formal practice of "Transformative Mediation."

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2010-03-12T12:50:00.003-08:00

Buying a House Collectively
Exploring Models of Home Ownership and Financing to Create lasting and Secure Collective Households

Time: 3pm - 4:30
Location: 1836 William St.

After outlining some reasons for owning vs. renting a collectively-run house, we will compare different ownership and financing models.
We discuss the implications of different ownership models in terms of flexibility, stability, and for the quality of relationships within
the collective. We'll also go over some numbers for what it would take to buy a house in East Vancouver.

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2010-03-12T12:50:00.001-08:00

Eco-Tour of a Collective House
How Collective Living Minimizes Urban Footprints

Time: 3pm-4:30
Location: 1153 Lakewood Dr

During this session, we will tour a collective home and highlight all the systems that reduce the collective ecological footprint
of a large house and allow each member to lead an active and full life beyond the home. By sharing the work, you will see how much
can be done when we all work together towards common goals. Waste, water, energy, food, and toxins will all be covered
along with your questions and queries!

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2010-03-12T12:49:00.000-08:00

Workshop Information and to REGISTER:

We ask that you register if you would like to attend any or all of the workshops.

To register please email VancouverCHN -at- gmail.com
After May 12th please call "The Beehive" -one of the hosting collective houses- to ask about space and registration.
We would love to hear from you. (604) 569-4697

For more information about any of the Workshops beyond what is listed in workshop descriptions
please email VancouverCHN -at- gmail.com

Note: Registration is so we know what to expect, and how many people to make tea for.