What is a co-op?
In general, a co-op is an business that is member-owned and controlled. Familiar examples may be things like a food co-op, a credit union, or a farmers' co-op.
In our housing co-op, members make house decisions through consensus, pool resources to live cheaply and efficiently, and share responsibilities to keep the house running smoothly.
I want to live with you! What do I do?
We have an application/interview process to accept new members. Each house's page, at left, describes the membership process for that house.
How much does it cost?
Living at KCH co-ops is considerably cheaper than surrounding housing and monthly charges include all your living expenses. For current rates, check the house pages to the left.
What is consensus?
Consensus is a decisionmaking process whereby decisions are reached when all members present consent to a proposal. This process does not assume everyone must be in complete agreement. When differences remain after discussion, individuals can agree to disagree, that is, give their consent by standing aside, and allow the proposal to be accepted by the group. Meristem uses Formal Consensus for house decisions. More details about this process can be found in the book On Conflict and Consensus (pdf).
Why is a co-op beneficial?
- Cooperatives save money. There is no owner/operator to take a profit from the customer: the customer IS the owner of a cooperative. Members ensure that their cooperative business provides the best quality products and services at the lowest possible cost.
- Cooperatives demonstrate economic democracy. In an investor-owned corporation the people who have the most money and shares have the most control over the way the business is run. In a cooperative each member has an equal share and one vote when decisions are made. This is known as economic democracy.
- Cooperatives operate for the benefit of member/owners. In a cooperative, those with similar needs act together and pool their resources for mutual gain. As a democratic entity, a cooperative changes with the changing needs of its members.
- Cooperatives are non-profit. In a cooperative, no one person reaps the benefits if the business has been profitable. After bills are paid and money is set aside for operations and improvements, all profits are returned to co-op members. In a co-op, the purpose is not to make money, but to save it.
Do I have to be a vegetarian?
You do not. Although Meristem eats only vegetarian/vegan house meals, you do not have to be vegetarian to live there, nor do you have to be vegetarian to appreciate a vegetarian dinner. Meristem allows members to cook their own meat at their own meals.
What makes a housing co-op different from a group of housemates?
A housing co-op is different from a group of roommates in a number of ways:
- Longevity. A group of roommates may move on, leaving one person to try either to find new roommates, or decide to leave. A co-op provides for some consistency: the co-op may continue, even if there is 100% turnover in the membership.
- Communal Meals. House meals can be the glue that holds the co-op together, as opposed to disparate housemates, who frequently prepare food only for themselves.
- Resource Sharing. Living in a cooperative means that there is no need for everyone to own their own set of dishes, buy all their own food, buy their own cleaning supplies, etc. Money is saved and resources are conserved by sharing.
- Shared Labor. By setting up an orderly division of labor, housing co-ops make sure that everyone does their share and no one gets stuck with all the work. Also, rather than each person having to do their own shopping every week, this arduous chore rotates among the house members.
- Community. Roommates may merely co-habitate without actually interacting. Housing co-op members establish an intentional community together.
Are pets allowed?
Fletcher Collective allows pets on a case-by-case basis. Meristem Cooperative does not allow pets.
Are there ever going to be more co-ops in Kalamazoo?
Glad you asked. We plan on expanding and opening more houses over the next several years, but we can't do it without your help. Please contact us if you'd like to help open more houses, especially if our current house doesn't meet your needs for cooperative living.