Who Defines a Family?

Placeholder image for Foundation for Intentional Community website.
Christopher Kindig
  • April 13, 2015
  • Life Transitions
  • Relationships
Group of diverse people at a community event with a 'Love makes a family' sign.

Who Defines a Family?

“Love makes us a Family.”

The Scarborough Street mansion is home to 8 adults who live together by choice in a small community. Their local zoning laws however forbid so many unrelated adults living together, causing the city of Hartford to tell them they must move out.

“This issue of the government deciding who is a legitimate family and who is illegitimate is unacceptable to us,” remarked a resident.

In a complaint filed in federal district court Wednesday, the residents of Scarborough Street mansion said they are part of a functional, taxpaying household that includes three children.

This is an issue faced by many people who are building urban communities, and co-householding groups. The Fall issue of Communities magazine will be discussing more issues surrounding this and the topic of Community and the Law.

To read more about this case, and for photo credits, go to: http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-scarborough-zoning-0326-20150325-story.html#page=1

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