Frequently Asked Questions

An “intentional community” is a group of people dedicated with intent, purpose, and commitment to a mutual concern. Generally the group shares land or housing, or is otherwise close enough geographically to be in continuous active fellowship so that it can effectively carry out the purposes to which it is dedicated. (Source: ic.org)

Intentional communities go beyond shared housing — they are defined by shared values, active participation, and intentional governance structures. Where roommate arrangements are typically transactional (shared costs, shared space), intentional communities involve ongoing participation in decision-making, community rituals, shared responsibilities, and a commitment to the collective good. The “intentional” part refers to the deliberate, values-driven choice to live in relationship with others.

Every community has their own methodology for handling conflict within their governance structure. As a foundational piece, some communities require members to learn how to communicate effectively and to implement those skills on a day-to-day basis as a way of life. Higher-level conflicts may require a facilitator or mediator to manage disagreement or resolve conflict. Common tools include Nonviolent Communication (NVC), sociocracy, and consensus decision-making.

Generally, in order to live in community, one must possess a willingness to participate in community affairs and engage constructively with conflict. Beyond that, each community has their own set of values — principles and standards essential to their vision and mission. As a prospective member, your values must align with that community’s values. The most universal skills? Active listening, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to the collective.

The reasons are varied and many. People who live in community are, at a minimum, seeking connection on a deeper level. Being in the company of others who share similar values, participating in community rituals and traditions, handling conflict effectively, working towards shared goals, and growing with those around you are all compelling reasons. The truth is that living in community is challenging and requires everyone to show up as their best selves — but the rewards of genuine belonging, resilience, and shared purpose are profound.

Condos and HOAs create shared governance around shared property values and maintenance — but they don’t typically involve shared values, income, or intentional relationships. Intentional communities are defined by the intention to live relationally: to know your neighbors deeply, make collective decisions together, and build a shared culture. The legal and ownership structures can overlap, but the lived experience is fundamentally different.

Religious affiliation is not a universal feature of intentional communities. Some communities follow the teachings of a specific religion, while others borrow from different traditions to guide their spiritual practices. Still others may decide that faith and spirituality are not part of their core values. Some communities represent themselves as religious organizations for tax purposes. Whether religion or spirituality should be a core value is entirely dependent on what the community decides collectively.

Yes! New Jersey has a rich history of communal experiments, from utopian communities in the 19th century to co-ops and communes in the 20th century. Free Acres (Berkeley Heights) and Roosevelt, NJ are notable examples. We also acknowledge the Indigenous peoples — the Lenape — who practiced forms of communal, land-based living on this land for thousands of years before European colonization.

Mutual aid, crises, and quality of life are all part of the answer. Neoliberalism has emphasized the values of individualism at the expense of community and the collective. We’ve seen the costs of the breakdown of community — car culture, suburbanization, consumerism, and the epidemic of loneliness — and want to rebuild the ties that kept human society resilient. We believe cooperative living is not just practical but essential for the challenges ahead.