Housing Cooperatives:
- Housing Cooperatives represent a fresh option for active adults 55 or older. Housing Co-ops focus on the preservation of assets as well as maintenance of community and personal control.
- Allow residents to own a share of the building in which they live. Unlike an apartment or CCRC, the entire asset is controlled and owned by those who live in it.
- Provide members with financial benefits, security and pride of ownership along with convenience and comfort of community living.
Explore these and other outside resources to better understand housing cooperatives and how they compare to today’s options.
A letter from our founder:
Welcome to Green Light!
I founded Green Light Cooperative on the basic premise that there needs to be a better way to meet the future demands of the modern senior.
I am concerned about the limited options available today in traditional senior living. Understandably, most people want to continue to live in their own homes for as long as they can. If they decide to stay home, maintenance assistance, in home care and elder specific upgrades can be overwhelming, expensive and eventually may lead to a feeling of isolation and dependency. People who choose to stay in their homes may eventually need to move out because of an injury, loss of loved one or deteriorating health condition.
Traditional independent and assisted living has done a remarkable job at capitalizing on vulnerable individuals who are making these need-based decisions. Service levels and rental rates can adjust on a monthly basis and the unit sizes are typically small with few floor plan selections. People who live in the building have no influence over rent increases or management practices because someone else – typically a for-profit corporation - owns the building.
The alternative, the senior co-op model; and while it is not widely known in the Pacific Northwest, it has benefited those in the Midwest for over 30 years. I have studied this member owned model and have talked with seniors who live in these co-ops. What I find are seniors who are passionate and excited about where they live. The key to successful aging is to make a lifestyle decision to move into the right place when you are healthy, active and mobile. The well-planned early move keeps you in control and affords you greater influence and financial security.
These co-ops bring together many of the elements that I would want for my own parents and indeed for myself when the time comes. It is because of my excitement about senior co-ops that I decided to establish Green Light Cooperative – a for-profit social venture - that works with 55+ adults to bring them the opportunity to live in a community that owns and controls its own state-of- the-art building.
I hope you enjoy perusing our website; if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the Best,
Mark Desbrow
I founded Green Light Cooperative on the basic premise that there needs to be a better way to meet the future demands of the modern senior.
I am concerned about the limited options available today in traditional senior living. Understandably, most people want to continue to live in their own homes for as long as they can. If they decide to stay home, maintenance assistance, in home care and elder specific upgrades can be overwhelming, expensive and eventually may lead to a feeling of isolation and dependency. People who choose to stay in their homes may eventually need to move out because of an injury, loss of loved one or deteriorating health condition.
Traditional independent and assisted living has done a remarkable job at capitalizing on vulnerable individuals who are making these need-based decisions. Service levels and rental rates can adjust on a monthly basis and the unit sizes are typically small with few floor plan selections. People who live in the building have no influence over rent increases or management practices because someone else – typically a for-profit corporation - owns the building.
The alternative, the senior co-op model; and while it is not widely known in the Pacific Northwest, it has benefited those in the Midwest for over 30 years. I have studied this member owned model and have talked with seniors who live in these co-ops. What I find are seniors who are passionate and excited about where they live. The key to successful aging is to make a lifestyle decision to move into the right place when you are healthy, active and mobile. The well-planned early move keeps you in control and affords you greater influence and financial security.
These co-ops bring together many of the elements that I would want for my own parents and indeed for myself when the time comes. It is because of my excitement about senior co-ops that I decided to establish Green Light Cooperative – a for-profit social venture - that works with 55+ adults to bring them the opportunity to live in a community that owns and controls its own state-of- the-art building.
I hope you enjoy perusing our website; if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the Best,
Mark Desbrow
