The current backdrop in the world is a harrowing one. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African-American man, died in Powderhorn, a neighbourhood south of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. While Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down on a city street during an arrest, Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer, kept his knee on the right side of Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. According to the criminal complaint against Chauvin, 2 minutes and 53 seconds of that time occurred after Floyd became unresponsive.  Understandably, this sparked protests, violence, looting, and many communities that we live in and work in were affected. The issues around racism and injustice have been a thread in American culture since its inception. 

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Consider also that this current movement is appearing in the middle of an unprecedented modern global pandemic. People are imprisoned in their own homes and relegated to Zoom, Netflix, and Postmates in a “rinse and repeat” style schedule that makes every day feel like Blursday. 

“Only after disaster can we be resurrected. It’s only after you’ve lost everything that you’re free to do anything. Nothing is static, everything is evolving” Tyler Durden, Fight Club 

The very fabric of our communities is at stake. Our perception of how we live in cities, towns, neighbourhoods, and everything in between is called into question. What will life look like? How will restaurants look in the future? How will travel look? Can we still go on vacation? Can we go on vacation forever and work remotely? 

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The dual crises have forced existential thought on the masses. The culmination of which has led us to the question - “What is this all for?”  You might be thinking to yourself, “I was here to read about coliving. Why are we getting so deep?”. 

The answer is simple. The underlying purpose of coliving is one answer to the existential question of our current day and age.

“So... the big question. What is it like to live in a communal household during COVID-19? The simple answer is ... it’s wonderful. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to have a built-in friend group and support system during this time of fear, change, and lack of clarity. The whole world has been upheaved, and at the same time we’re told we have to isolate and not see anyone outside of our home, lest we spread the virus and overrun our hospitals’ capacities. Prior to living here, I was living in a studio in a high-rise in Hollywood and felt extremely isolated. Thoughts of having had to spend quarantine in that environment are extremely triggering - I would’ve had a much harder time dealing with the situation had I been completely alone.” Julia, Starcity Member 

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Humans are social creatures. In times of crisis, our body responds with stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Our hearts pound faster, our muscles tighten, we get ready for action but we can become paralysed with fear. While modern research is showing that stress is actually not as harmful to us as we have been led to believe, it can certainly feel that way. What Julia shares with us is an important lesson - community, and connecting with others is a path for us to feel less alone in this crazy world and a way to reduce our anxiety.

“I hope you and the Starcity team are in good health and high spirits. As [a] Black member of the community, I appreciate your team sending out this letter and look forward to seeing community programming and activities evolve to include conversations about racial equity and lasting change.” Amber, Starcity Member 

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Our most powerful tool is our voice. However, if nobody is listening, it is a dull instrument. Amber teaches us that acknowledging people’s views and perspectives is an integral part of the community. One of the benefits of coliving is that having a group of diverse individuals can open people’s eyes to different contexts that we may not be aware of. 

In a pre-pandemic world, coliving was gaining steam, becoming a global phenomenon looking to disrupt the traditional apartment and hospitality world. In the depths of the disaster, its long-term viability came into question by the incumbent industry players. Our data would now suggest that it’s coming back stronger than before, and “evolving”, in Tyler Durden’s words. 

Our connection with others, even those that we are just getting to know, is a binding force of good. Having a community to lean on and a place where your voice is heard – coliving at its finest - is how we can make this upside-down world feel right side up all over again.