Community based house sharing with a baby...Advice please?

[Jaz1993]

Me and my partner have a 4 month old DD and currently live in a very large house in a not so good area. The rent is real cheap but we live a long way from the city, nice baby groups, safe parks etc. I had been travelling for 4 years and has met my German DP in Australia and he decided to move back to the UK with me when I became pregnant.

As we lived with so many others whilst travelling we have an aspiration to live in a community based house share project with other parents. We would love to share a garden to grow what we can,, swap clothes, cook together etc. (We are not polygamous btw), its just we WOULD love for our DD to be surrounded by other children as for social stimulation as we and DP were only children.

The only problem is we do not know anyone from the area or closer to the big city. Every website we look at on house shares either says says no children or students only. I wondered if any one had done this successfully? I am trying to meet other people who think like we do but it seems so hard with a newborn. Does anyone know of a website where us interesting folk congregate?

Do you literally want to live in the same house? Or a community? If the latter, somewhere like Findhorn?

Most people wouldn't want to share an actual house with another family if the had a choice I think. It could get rather intense, unless it's a mansion type property, where you're very separate.

I'm not too sure about specific projects for those with children, I did hear about one near us but it had a religious angle which is probably not what you're after ?
In any case, you might find the community you're after in the area itself. There are bits of our small city that are a bit hippyish, attract families,have a great community feeling, lots of local amenities, etc.
I suppose what I'm saying is you can get that community experience without necessarily having to live all together, which would have its pros and cons.

If you have a look on the Diggers and Dreamers website

www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/

You can advertise if there’s nothing suitable at the moment.

I think what you’re wanting is co-housing rather than a house share. We’ve got a few different co-housing areas in my town and the concept is that everyone has their own house/flat but there’s large communal areas, shared outdoor area, communal meals etc and very family friendly www.coflats.net/
cohousing.org.uk/
www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/

Maybe put an ad in Permaculture magazine or Green Parent magazine?

Personally I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse than sharing my living space with another family, and I can’t imagine there’s many that would go for shared housing situations.

Why don’t you look at flats or maisonette properties with similar minded people ?

Or get more involved in the community you live in, join the local council or community groups, or move to an area which already has a strong community spirit, I live in a small town where the library is run entirely by volunteers for example, we have community gardens and green spaces, we have lots of theme days and fates etc.

Ah good glad to see there is a link to diggers and dreamers! If you're in London there is a cohousing London FB group and people quite often post on that interested in getting something going. Or maybe see if there are any flats in BedZed in S London which has a slightly less intense approach.

Thanks so much guys! I am actually living close to Sheffield.
Diggers and Dreamers is a great resource, super grateful. Did some inquiring but there are none in my area accepting families at the moment. Maybe I will create my own.

You sound like you're looking for something like a housing co-operative :)

There's lots in the UK, maybe take a look at Radical Routes for advice on setting one up yourself!