Creating an Intentional Community
Don't have an intentional community in your neighborhood? Beacon Hill Village was founded by a group of residents who wanted to create a better alternative for themselves than an assisted living setting. You can do the same. Here's how:
Find an Independent Living Community »
- Form a group of interested neighbors, preferably with a variety of interests, skills and backgrounds.
- Use census reports to determine the demographics of your community, specifically how many people are over age 50 and the median income.
- Develop a survey to determine desired services and what people would be willing to pay for them.
- Talk to local providers, such as health care agencies and maintenance companies to determine whether they'd be interested in working with your members.
- Consult with a business professional to crunch the numbers and draw up a business plan; determine estimated membership and service fees.
- Raise start-up money through donations or fund-raising efforts.
- Hire a director for your village to help recruit members and contract with service providers.
Linda Hepler is a freelance health writer whose work has appeared in a variety of health and fitness publications, such as "Family Doctor," "Fitness Plus," and "Max Sports and Fitness." She received her BS in nursing from Eastern Michigan University and works part time as an Employee Health Nurse in northern Michigan.