As we peer over the brink of the collapsed financial markets, the world we knew has fundamentally shifted. Big Money Congressional lobbying skewed the playing field to favor the well connected, resulting in the $700 billion bailout package, the ball and chain of debt that signals the beginning of the new era.

New Orleans residents will attest that you can’t count on the government when a crisis hits, therefore, it is up to us to help each other. Rather than caving into fear, pooling our resources to create sustainable communities strengthens us. Just as twine is stronger than the single threads, when communities cooperatively brainstorm to solve common problems, the whole is stronger than solitary individuals slogging through alone.

The full-blown financial mess shines the spotlight on housing issues that, for many, have been at a crisis point for a long time. Some housing cooperatives have provided affordable housing for generations of people within the same apartment complex. House sharing is another alternative, and potentially a joyful one, to consider. See Housing for more about this topic.

New Community Vision suggests gathering every month to discover resources that exist within your community that can make your life easier and more productive. About Cooperatives explains this in more detail. The table on Community Needs Meet Resources lists universal issues that each of us faces at some point in our lives, whether it’s dealing with aging parents or latch-key kids. The way to get this going is to gather regularly with your neighbors. As you get to know them, natural alliances will form and solutions will follow. Contact terry@newcommunityvision.coop to get your neighborhood brainstorming for creative, cooperative solutions to universal challenges.

Connecting with others is an antidote to fear as we enter this uncharted territory. Beyond that, connecting with others has the potential to share resources that can tangibly help each of us through this difficult time.

Tags: house sharing