Bright Morning Star is a small urban household, formed to support our members in their social justice and artistic pursuits. Located in Seattle, we enjoy many benefits of city living, including a wide range of friends and interests outside our home: Quaker meeting, music, environmental and social justice organizations, Native American cultural revival, and the Northwest Intentional Community Association, among others. We share chores, food, mostly vegetarian meals, and meet regularly, making decisions by consensus. Our workdays honor the continued well-being of our home, and our celebrations recognize the Light within each of us. Occasionally one of us spontaneously bursts into song. We began as part of the Life Center Community in Philadelphia in 1979. In 1985 our core group of two couples (gay and straight) combining incomes and co-parenting three children moved to Seattle. Although members have come and gone over the years, we are still committed to maintaining a pleasant, cooperative, multicultural and nurturing environment for personal growth and social activism. Our “Solar Plan” is now complete: Two sets of solar panels produce large portions of our hot water and electricity; it’s quite a thrill to see the electric meter running in reverse. We now have an electric vehicle, which is partially charged by our solar system.
Invited guests are welcome. Advance notice required.
Supportive family, ecological/sustainable living patterns, social justice
When openings occur, we advertise on http://seattle.craigslist.org and or the NICA website: https://nwcommunities.org/listings/, as well as social media, primarily the Seattle Cooperative Housing Network group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SeattleCooperativeHousingNetwork . This link will take you to our membership form: https://forms.gle/FgEoZEXDamTuuriC8. We select the most promising responses and interview the people at meals. If things look good we schedule a second meeting within a few days, during which we check references. When a person is invited to join, they will move in for a 3-month trial period, and post a $500 deposit bond. At the end of the trial period, we hold a “clearness” meeting, where each person testifies as to the opportunities and challenges presented by the person’s membership. Then, if all are in agreement, the person is admitted to full membership.
Write at least two weeks in advance, either by email or with a SASE. All visitors are approved by the group, so tell us something substantial about yourself, particularly your purpose in visiting. We are small in size and short on time and energy to share with visitors, but welcome those who may share our interests.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Everyone must agree before moving forward.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
Everyone living here who has undergone a formal “clearness” process is considered a full member. Decisions about the long-term structure of the house (roof, energy systems, etc.) are made by the property owners. All other decisions are made by the entire group of members.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Regular fees: $1236
Labor: Yes (3 hrs/week)
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Cost-sharing, Non-profit rent level, Debt has no effect on membership, Weekly chores, Bi-monthly work days. Deposit of $500, applied to last month’s rent share, cost-sharing; amount varies depending on number of sharers. Note that the monthly cost share amount listed above*includes food*.
Garden(s), Outbuilding(s), Outdoor Kitchen, Internet
Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Connecting people and communities through an intentional online marketplace
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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