Tell me more about cohousing

Send us a message!In Episode 20, Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead catch up on the progress CoHousing Houston has made in the last few months (hint: it's been busy!) and what the next stage will bring. 

Send us a message!In Episode 19, Rebecca Averill (one of our newest members) joins Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead to explore the many ways that a cohousing community is architected, socially and physically, to support our lives at any stage. Between them they cover a wide range different stages of life they are experiencing today, from toddlers to teens, to empty nesting, to retirement. Listen in to learn more and hear how this might be something for you too!CoHousing Houston is Texas' first multigenerational cohousing community based on the values of connection and sustainability.  Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 18, Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead catch everyone up on what's going on at the site and with the community in early 2026. CoHousing Houston is Texas' first multigenerational cohousing community based on the values of connection and sustainability.  Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 17, Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead explore how the work by Angela Duckworth on GRIT applies to their experience in building a new cohousing community. Listen in to hear about their journey and where these characteristics have been observed and how they have helped.CoHousing Houston is Texas' first multigenerational cohousing community based on the values of connection and sustainability.  Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 16, Kelli Soika visits with Charles Durrett, one of the founders of the cohousing movement in the United States. He has written a new book, Neuro-Inclusive Community Design: Lessons from Sólheimar Ecovillage. In this episode they talk about what successful community design looks like when it starts with the premise of neuro-inclusivity. Chuck shares insights about how individuals and families can bring projects like this together in the United States.Chuck's book is on sale now and available from major booksellers or through The Cohousing Company. You can read reviews here.In addition, here is the link to information about Sólheimar and a video that Chuck references in the interview. CoHousing Houston is Texas' first multigenerational cohousing community based on the values of connection and sustainability.  Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 14, Kelli Soika chats with two of CoHousing Houston's founders, Tom King and Lynn Morstead about the very earliest days of their community. Like all good cohousing tales, there's a longing for community, some serendipity, lots of work, all wrapped up in a bunch of friendship. Curious about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 14 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika chat with Jennie Lindberg and Norm Frampton from the forming community of Sunnyside Village Cohousing in Marysville, Washington. Listen in to hear more about their "cottage" community!For more information or to get in touch with Jennie and Norm, please visit www.sunnysidevillagecohousing.com or you can send an email to [email protected] about Houston? Check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 13 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about what it means to be a Founder of a cohousing community. They share what this means to them individually and announce the plans to interview some other members and communities about their founding stories.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 12 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika answer the questions that so many people ask us "How do you keep going after all this time?" This project has been longer than any of us anticipated. If you're wondering this about us, or working on a longer project and needing some inspiration, listen in to hear what they are doing to stay focused, motivated and energized!For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 11 Lynn Morstead interviews Kalila Zunes-Wolfe about her experiences living in two different cohousing communities from the age of one through leaving for college. Kalila shares memories of favorite activities, encountering different parenting styles, inviting friends over, launching a cohousing newspaper, Olympics and more. Tune in to learn more.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 10 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika visit with Suzy Sharp of Heartwood Commons in Tulsa, OK. Suzy is all moved in to her cohousing dream home and shares what it's like to be on "the other side" of the move in. Learn about the community activities, how the group stayed together through the stresses of moving, and hear about the three homes they have available for active adults 55+.If you would like to learn more about Heartwood Commons, visit their website or give Suzy a call at 918-519-5298.Heartwood Commons Tulsa: https://www.heartwoodcommonstulsa.com/

Send us a message!In Episode 9 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika tour the Common House at CoHousing Houston. In the cool air of the community's geothermal heat exchange HVAC system, they take a look at the finishings being installed in the kitchen, dining area, and mail room.

Send us a message!In Episode 8 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead look at Why Community Matters through a new lens inspired by one-time young podcaster, Lilian Shepard, in her debut, single recording in 2021 during the aftershocks of COVID (check out Why Community Matters). It was fun to reflect on our generational differences and similarities as we walked through the 8 reasons why it matters. Listen in to see what your take would be.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have

Send us a message!In Episode 7, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss how cohousing works for people who identify as introverts. It isn't all group activities and endless gatherings! Cohousers delivers all the warmth of community that introverts and extroverts alike crave.... just with less of the things introverts hate. If you like having people around but hate chit-chat, this is for you.

Send us a message!In Episode 6, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss how the concepts of cohousing support the tenets of minimalism. They check in on Lynn's project to right-size her physical world to match her busy and active lifestyle.  Benefits of Minimalism: 21 Benefits of Owning Less

Send us a message!In Episode 5, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika share the change in CoHousing Houston's website to include floor plans and prices. It is a departure from the community-first approach and signals that the project is almost complete. If you're dreaming of forming a cohousing community, this episode provides insight into sales and marketing strategy.

Send us a message!In Episode 4, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika pick up on the word of 2025: abundance. Some people are talking about it in reference to a policy ethos, but they tap back into the idea that cohousing creates "extra space." If you missed it, there's a great article from December, "How to be not lonely? 'Cohousing' is an answer for some people" published by NPR that covers similar points.

Send us a message!In case you missed it, Kelli & Lynn are replaying this interview with Katie McCamant from 2024. It’s chock full of good information about  cohousing as a national movement (she’d just wrapped up the national conference when it was recorded). Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions is returning to Houston to come see the progress made and walk the space with the group she has advised from the very start. As part of this visit, Katie will give a public talk on site at 4pm on Saturday, April 26th. REGISTER. Katie will speak from 4:15 to 4:45 and then we'll take a tour of the Common House and homes.

Send us a message!In Episode 2, Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika are looking forward to the April site tour with a very important visitor. Katie McCamant is coming to town! Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions is returning to Houston to come see the progress made and walk the space with the group she has advised from the very start. As part of this visit, Katie will give a public talk on site at 4pm on Saturday, April 26th. REGISTER. Katie will speak from 4:15 to 4:45 and then we'll take a tour of the Common House and homes.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have

Send us a message!Welcome to Season 4! We've been through the looooooong construction of buildings and are now in the finishing stages. Season 4 will accompany this community in the finishing stages through to movie in. In Episode 1 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead introduce what's happening on  site with their experience of walking through new homes in a new neighborhood. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have

Send us a message!In Episode 61 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead cover the 5 main areas where the cohousing and coliving models for community living differ from each other. The terms are often used interchangeably in the media as these concepts are introduced into new markets, but there are key differences that interested future residents will want to understand. In this podcast Kelli and Lynn cover these key points of distinction:OwnershipScope of private space Participation in decision-makingInvolvement in management of the propertyThe basis for community life, aka the social contractListen in to see how your understanding compares with this overview.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have

Send us a message!In Episode 60 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead review the places and activities they show out of town guests. The focus is on the aspects of Houston that dominate their experiences of living in the city: green lushness, art everywhere, walkable and bikeable, and eclectic. By the time their guests leave, they take away a completely transformed perspective on what Houston is really like.Listen in to see how this compares with what you think about Houston.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 59 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead pose the question- if someone has read about cohousing why should they come to an Info Session? They break down the content, the expectations, and the magic that go along with a live conversation. Listen in to hear more ... or just come to the next Open House on Feb 8!RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceqFor more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 58 Kelli Soika  interviews Lynn Morstead and member Liz Parker about their recent visit to the grocery store in their future neighborhood. What was it like? Could they find what they wanted? Will they commit to the new one, or make the drive back to their old one after they move? Listen in to hear more ... Come meet us at our our next Open House on Feb 8!RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceqFor more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 57 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika  are struck by the winter doldrums... it's raining, it's grey, the days are short (even in Houston!), and the buildings aren't ready for a January move-in. What are future cohousers to do?Come meet us at our our next Open House on Feb 8!RSVP here: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!Send us a message!In Episode 56 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about the community events that took place in December and share the experiences of the year-end first ever site visit for Friends and Family, followed by a public Open House. It was so successful they are doing it again on Feb 8. Click here to sign up for that one, if you're curious: https://mailchi.mp/a7b38c561972/hgao11xceq For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In honor of our friend, Laird Schaub, a man who brought clarity to the clueless, humor to tough situations, and a path forward for those of us hoping to live in a more cooperative culture, we'd like to replay our interview from our first season. The discussion begins with an explanation of cooperative culture and how it compares to a competitive environment and then they explore specific scenarios navigated by communities, including:Gathering information in a way that moves consensus forward,What happens when individuals listen and are heard,The roles of the facilitator and experienced members of the community,How to bring multi-modal information into a discussion,And more.Rest well, Laird, and peace to all who love you.

Send us a message!Cohousing.org, has a t-shirt campaign right now declaring Common Meals Will Save The World. In Episode 54 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika review the newly launched community dinner program at CoHousing Houston. After two Meatless Mondays, they have some ideas about what has worked and what could be tweaked. If you're in town, come check it out!For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 53 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika dream up the future neighbors they are seeking to fill the remaining spaces in their community. From toddlers, to curious 30-somethings, to the person who makes you laugh, to the person who inspires you to live more sustainably and many others. Listen in to hear how they assemble the dream team. Maybe one of them is you!?For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 52 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika are fresh off a stint at the farmers' market where they talked to tons of people about cohousing. They bring the questions people have and their answers to the recording. Truly, this is "Tell Me More About CoHousing"!For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 51 Lynn Morstead interviews HAUS Project member, Matteo Roberts, about the history of this unique Houston cooperative and his experiences in cooperative living, for the first time in his life. The mission of the HAUS project is "to provide affordable housing operated cooperatively by residents with greener, more sustainable lifestyle options. We strive to educate the general public about cooperative organizational principles and sustainable lifestyle options, as well as assist other cooperative and sustainable efforts in the Houston region and elsewhere."True to their mission, Matteo recently reached out to CoHousing Houston to explore synergies between our two groups. Listen in to learn more.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 50 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk a little more about one of the pieces of advice that Katie McCamant offered about living in community last week. She is a big believer in working things out with neighbors by starting with a conversation. It is often difficult for the "default" action to be having a conversation but it is so very powerful. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 49 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk to Katie McCamant of CoHousing Solutions about her experience at the 2024 National Cohousing Conference in Denver. Katie talks about the national association's ongoing interest in affordability in cohousing as well as a move to broaden the age and diversity of the cohousing concept. She mentions some interesting ideas for how to handle generational change within communities. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 48 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about recent changes in the real estate landscape and how those larger trends do or don't apply to cohousing homes. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 47 Lynn Morstead interviews long-standing member, Margie Ortega, about the unique team that she has spearheaded during our community development phase of our project. It's called the "Neighborhood Engagement" team. In this interview Margie talks about how this group was started, how she has launched the team and what her aspirations are for our cohousing project's involvement in the local neighborhood. Margie recently wrote a piece about how the Gulf storms have affirmed her decision that cohousing is the right answer for her: How the Derecho and Beryl affirmed by faith in cohousing.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 46 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead interview Amiss Baucum, currently doing a Master's program in Urbanism and Societal Change at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture. Amiss grew up in Louisiana in a tight community, which informs his interest in the value of connection and the importance of designing for interaction with the people living around us.They cover a wide range of topics and perspectives from his program and experiences living in Europe, from how to accommodate population growth with repurposing of buildings to the challenges of making a new and different way of living together attractive so we can get serious about sustainable growth.Listen in to learn more.If you'd like to get in touch with Amiss, he can be contacted at [email protected] or @stilljustaman on Instagram.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 45 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead conduct a review of the Recommended Top 10 Agreements to have in place before moving in, and take a stab at assessing how their community is doing on this list. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 44 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead talk to a member of their community, Cate Springer, about her experience at the national cohousing conference. She's an architect who is interested in how to live differently... and she's in the middle of a journey visiting cohousing communities. Come hear about the conference and her experiences!For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 43 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead discuss how cohousing communities address individuals' desire to change their homes within the context of shared walls and shared interests. Hint: it's pretty different from how a standard HOA handles it.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 42 Kelli Soika and Lynn Morstead catch up and talk about the 2024 Olympics. How does it relate to cohousing? Tune in and find out!For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 41 Kelli Soika visits with Suzy Sharp a founding member of Heartwood Commons a new 55+ cohousing community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Suzy talks about her community which is getting ready for move in soon. If you're curious about communities around the US, listen in and learn about Heartwood Commons.Suzy mentions that Heartwood Commons will hold an information session on Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 pm on Zoom.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 40 Lynn Morstead interviews Kim Meyer, one of our newest cohousing community members about her path to community. An author, university English professor and most recently the founder of a community farm, Lynn invites Kim to describe her journey from writer to farmer, to cohousing and explore how they all overlap. In her most recent book, Accidental Sisters: Refugee Women Struggling Together for a New American Dream, Kim describes her journey with five refugee women in Houston, Texas, as they navigate a program for single mothers overseen by Alia Altikrity, a former refugee from Iraq. Alia's guiding philosophy is that small, direct, meaningful acts of mutual care are the foundation for a flourishing community. Kim says in her introduction, “I don’t know how to fix the systemic problem. But I believe that an answer has something to do with each of us making our small spheres more like the sisterhoods of the women with whom I spent the year documented here” . This resonates strongly with cohousing communities everywhere. Listen in to hear more. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. Send us a message!

Send us a message!In Episode 39 Kelli Soika interviews Caleb Parker, a young adult who has lived in both a co-op in Texas and an intentional community in New York City. They talk about the structure of the two communities and his insights into how the environment creates a sense of community.Caleb is CoHousing Houston member, Liz Parker's, son. Check out our conversation with her about the Power of Invitation.For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!Send us a message!In Episode 38 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika talk about what happened in Houston this past week when hurricane Beryl came roaring into town. How they prepared for it, how they rode out the storm and what the response was in their respective neighborhoods. They wrap it up with thoughts on how they will respond to the next one and what their take-aways are for moving into cohousing later this year. For more information about CoHousing Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 37 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika discuss one of the ways community is built: through the regular (and sometimes tedious!) practice of just showing up. The value of returning to a group of people and committing to building a relationship is the foundation for the sense of community that often comes later. For more information about community dinners coming soon to cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 36 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika interview Claudia Stephens about her experience cooking for a crowd as a volunteer chef at one of the many waystations on the Camino de Santiago. She has an amazing tale of hospitality and organization that is inspiring and relates well to the experience of community dinners.For more information about community dinners coming soon to cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 35 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika review A Consensus Handbook published by Seeds for Change. A Consensus Handbook explains the spirit and philosophy of co-operative decision making as well as providing practical guidance on how to facilitate a consensus process. This comprehensive guide looks at common situations and explain the skills and tools your group can use to ease the path to a decision. This book covers techniques for decision-making in small and large groups as well as virtual meetings. If you would like to get your own copy of this book, go meet some cohousers and see if they'll pass one along... or follow this link.For more information about cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 34 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika give their personal expansions on the "Ten Lessons in Neighborliness From a Cohousing Community" by Courtney Martin, published in the Berkley Greater Good magazine.We've been featuring posts on these 10 the past couple of weeks on our Facebook page. Check these out here to get a visual and more details from the article. Start with #1 "Sharing unlocks abundance" here from May 29, 2024 and work your way up to #10 "Intergenerational neighborliness is a win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win-win" here.For more information about cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 33 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika delve further into the stack of cohousing books they've accumulated over the years and review what's useful and why you might want to check out a cohousing book.  In this episode, they review The Cooperative Handbook, a book written by Yana Ludwig and Karen Gimnig.If you would like to get your own copy of this book, go meet some cohousers and see if they'll pass one along... or follow this link.For more information about cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected]. 

Send us a message!In Episode 32 Lynn Morstead and Kelli Soika delve into the stack of cohousing books they've accumulated over the years and review what's useful and why you might want to check out a cohousing book.  In this episode, they review Head, Heart & Hands Lessons in Community Building, a book written by Shari Leach (Jim Leach's daughter.... Jim from Episode 73: Building A Custom Neighborhood).If you would like to get your own copy of this book, go meet some cohousers and see if they'll pass one along... or follow this link.For more information about cohousing in Houston, please check out our website at www.cohousinghouston.com. Let us know if you have any comments or ideas by emailing us at [email protected].