Overview
Hexagon Women’s Land will provide marginalized women access to our land, offering affordable housing units where they can live, work, and volunteer.
Meetings and conversations with the District of Muskoka, Land Trusts and Co-Operatives, architects, builders, experts in sustainability, Indigenous community organizers, creators and inhabitants of other women’s lands in Canada, and other enthusiastic supporters, including potential future residents, are ongoing. We are reviewing the best ways to obtain local property for this project as well as establishing governance and structure.
In three to five years, we hope to be established as the first women’s land community in Ontario.
Current Issues
Huntsville has a homelessness problem, which is something that disproportionately impacts women. When women are homeless, the risk of abuse, exploitation, coercion, and trafficking increases exponentially. This vulnerability compounds if the woman is also racialized, has mental or physical disabilities including mental health issues, experiences generational poverty, or has a history of abuse or trauma. Rooms for rent in Huntsville have skyrocketed since the pandemic, with current prices being set in excess of $1000 per month and women often compete against dozens of other candidates for the same space. The rentals are often precarious, untenable, and do not offer the security or community that women need to thrive.
Why women-only?
The women-only intention of Hexagon is to offer a female-focused, positive, empowering space for women who have suffered from abuse or from the harmful repercussions of living in a patriarchy. Statistically, men are, by a huge margin, more likely to abuse/assault/rape women than other women. We believe in a new way of living free from oppression, while supporting women’s right to maintain relationships outside the land. For the women who choose to live on Hexagon, the women-only intention will not be a burden but a driving factor in her decision to live there. We also intend to maintain a women-focused method of governance that will challenge current power structures and prioritize women’s leadership.
Other women-only spaces
Although there are some homes in Huntsville that rent only to other women, it is rare that such rooms come available and when they do, competition is fierce. The 10 transitional apartments at Chrysalis, Huntsville’s women shelter run by Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group, are also rented only to women, for up to one year. There is a significant waitlist for these apartments as well. Although Chrysalis works diligently to protect the safety of its residents, we recognize it is simply not equipped to address the dire lack of housing in Huntsville, or provide permanent affordable and accessible housing for all the women who require it.
There are only four women’s lands in Canada: two in Nova Scotia and two in British Colombia. Hexagon Women’s Land would be the first of its kind in Ontario, located ideally in our remarkable town. Hexagon could become a unique and renowned initiative, supporting those who are most vulnerable but who also have neglected potential due to the oppressive structures in our current socio-economic system. A key feature of this women-led project is that it attempts to redress the power dynamic between those who offer housing and those who require it. The women living in Hexagon are responsible for it and benefit from it – the women who live there also direct the project.
Who will live there?
The initial residents of Hexagon will be women for whom the appeal of women-only space, immersion in nature, dedication to sustainability, and commitment to a new envisioning of living will be a thrilling challenge. They will be selected based on their resilience, and their capacity and desire to live co-operatively. Women will own their homes and the land will be owned communally, potentially as a Land Trust. If women choose to sell their homes, profits will be shared and the new owner will be vetted to maintain the integrity of the project. Women can also rent existing homes if home-ownership is not currently possible or desirable. The initial residents will be expected to participate in the democratic responsibilities of a co-operative, and the goal is to be able to deliver housing in a variety of modalities and with varying degrees of governance participation.
The Homes (Hives)
After discussions with potential residents, an ideal concept for the initial building has been created. Five hexagonal structures, sharing external walls, formed around a shared centre space (a garden, or workshop, possibly indoor/outdoor). One side of the internal hexagon is dedicated as a secured entryway, and all individual home entrances are in the centre space. Each living space will be approximately 400 square feet of studio space, each with a kitchen and bathroom. All efforts will be made to maintain environmental integrity and sustainability. Initially one hive will be constructed, housing 5 female occupants. More will be added.
The key elements of this concept are: security, low build cost, optimal use of building materials, low land and environmental impact, privacy, and community.
Hexagon can serve as a prototype for any manner of community housing: for mental health recovery, addiction recovery, disability support, male-only space, elder-support and mixed generation living, or simply beautiful affordable housing for anyone.
The Land
The land itself must be able to support several ‘hives’ (5-home structures), a greenhouse, community buildings, extensive gardens, as well as provide privacy to residents. Integral to Hexagon is a healthy and dynamic relationship to the land itself. As such, access to hyper-local water – a well, river, or lake – is vital to its sustainability. A key goal is using environmentally renewable power sources while maintaining the integrity of the land. No blasting, unnecessary felling of trees, or other destructive land manipulation techniques will be permitted. A property that has already been developed is acceptable (especially if it has full sun for food gardens), and the project will strive to remediate any ecological damage that has previously been done.
The Amenities
We hope to take advantage of a large plot to build communal spaces such as a commercial kitchen, studio, common day-use where visitors are permitted, and possibly a storefront or gallery to allow people from the community and tourists to understand the project, while also maintaining the security of the residents. There should be potential for keeping animals such as chickens and bees, large native plant and food gardens including an orchard.
Concept note, FAQ, and glossary to come. Feedback welcome.
womanwalkingaway.wordpress.com 