Co-living during the epidemic: yes, it is possible – and better than you imagine.
It is no surprise that in Brazil, co-living and cohousing are experiencing a much slower popularization process than in other countries around the world: the idea of sharing living space is not new, and the number of these initiatives has only increased around the world in the last two decades. In Brazil, this gap may be associated with a culture focused on home ownership and the low professionalization of the residential rental sector. However, the complex public health situation imposed by the new coronavirus also raises many questions about this style of housing: how can social isolation be maintained given that the basic principle of co-living is sharing?
The social isolation to which a large part of the world's population has been subjected has presented a very interesting controversy: while isolation refers to separation, social isolation is mainly defined by a group of beings living together and collaborating with each other. But is separating coexistence really the way forward?
Apparently not. Not that we shouldn't be physically separated, but because we've discovered new ways of living together and collaborating – and this mutual collaboration doesn't depend on physical contact. Nothing new for co-living. The sense of empathy, even without physical contact, has shown that it's not that easy to end the social aspect of a community. And this applies not only to attitudes towards people who are close to us, but also to the general functioning of society.
So, what is the role of co-living spaces – both for their tenants and for society?
1. We can provide a real support network between residents, where people can truly care for each other according to their particular needs and exchange information more directly;
2. We can seek maximum security and optimization for all employees and tenants who circulate and frequent the spaces, through actions such as entry management and increasing the ease of delivery services;
3. Finally, we can offer flexible accommodations for those who, either due to restrictions on movement between states or countries, or due to the need for isolation within their own family to increase safety, need a temporary place to stay at this time of crisis.
In this sense, Citas also aims to seek solutions that prevent the spread of the virus, thinking of those who are close to those on the front line of the fight: we are directing our energies towards the rental of residential units in an easy, flexible way and at competitive prices.
Within this scenario, co-living spaces thrive on their ability to creatively address the challenges posed by the coronavirus, as illustrated by the examples above. As Christian Schmitz of SALTO Systems (a company that develops technology solutions for co-living spaces) put it: “These uncertain times are turning a lot of things upside down. For many, now is the time to rethink concepts. Let’s be honest, physical distancing is a new and unprecedented challenge; but what we are seeing now is that people are finding social connection more valuable than ever.”
These spaces and their communities are making the best of the situation and have seen their values proven – and strengthened – by the crisis.
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