Housing and Lifestyles
The Housing Authority is the central entity that manages housing. This office monitors birth and death vital statistics as well as trends in both preferred housing mode and geographical preferences in order to maintain an ample supply of dwellings. The Authority also orders the construction of new homes and repairs to existing structures. The actual pairing of individuals and families with suitable housing is performed by Social Services.
There are many modes of living in our world. Most families live in traditional
housing such as apartments, condominiums, and houses. A typical family
of four usually lives in a two or three bedroom home, within a mile or
two of mass transportation. There are many larger homes, to accomodate
extended families. Often several related families will occupy adjoining
homes to assist in child and senior care. This is encouraged as it decreases
the demand for such services.
Many citizens prefer to live in cooperatives and communes. In some of these organizations, many of the individuals fulfill part or all of their work requirement through the services they render to the cooperative. In other arrangements, each family lives autonomously yet come together for meals or other specific activities such as music, art, or sports. Those wishing to establish a new cooperative community may submit a plan to the Housing Authority, and resources may be allocated for a trial period, subject to review. There are also specific Youth Cooperatives where troubled adolescents are occasionally sent, as well as other teens who volunteer to spend a term in the capacity of a mentor.
There are some cooperatives, several representing various American Indian tribes, that are living in the traditional manner of their ancestors; often in temporary, seasonal dwellings. These people migrate to follow game on large tracts of reserved land where they hunt, fish, and perform tribal customs and rituals without undue outside interference.
Travelers who work as they go as day labor or skilled labor
There are always experimental lifestyle options as well.