A directory of belonging
Places where community is built into where you live — not another club to visit, but somewhere the people around you are part of daily life. Monasteries that welcome guests, cohousing, co-ops, ecovillages, seniors villages, and neighbourhoods that actually function. Start where you are.
Compiled with AI, checked by nobody yet. These are starting points, gathered for New York — real places as far as we know, but details change. Verify with a phone call before you set your heart or drive across the state.
A pioneering Camphill community founded in 1961 where adults with developmental disabilities and volunteers share homes, farm work, and craft studios on 600 acres. Life together is built on mutual respect and the dignity of meaningful work.
Visit website →Common Ground Community provides supportive housing and services for vulnerable populations in New York City. They foster a sense of community and offer pathways to stability.
Visit website →Part of the international L'Arche federation, with homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities share daily life as friends. Assistants live in community with core members, building belonging through ordinary routines.
An intergenerational care community founded in 1966 around the care of the elderly, inspired by Rudolf Steiner's ideas. Elders, coworkers, and families share meals, farming, and craft work in a village-like setting.
A Camphill lifesharing community for young adults with developmental disabilities, centered on a biodynamic farm and craft workshops. Coworkers and residents grow together through education, work, and shared household life.
A small cohousing community beside the Esopus Creek in the village of Saugerties, established in the 1990s. Neighbors share a common house, gardens, and easy walks to the village center.
Rochester Cohousing is a developing cohousing community aiming to create a neighborhood with private homes and extensive shared facilities. It emphasizes social connection, mutual support, and environmental sustainability among its members.
Visit website →A coliving operator running furnished shared houses across New York City boroughs for students, interns, and young professionals. Housemates get flexible leases and built-in community in an otherwise daunting city.
The Center for Social Innovation (CSI) offers coliving options alongside its coworking spaces, fostering a community of social entrepreneurs and innovators. Residents benefit from shared resources, collaborative projects, and a supportive network.
Visit website →The ReSisters is a feminist, queer, and trans-inclusive intentional community and coliving space in Brooklyn. They focus on mutual support, shared resources, and collective action for social justice.
Visit website →One of the best-known ecovillages in the world, with three cohousing neighborhoods, organic farms, and about 100 green-built homes on 175 acres. It welcomes residents and visitors eager to learn hands-on sustainable living.
Visit website →Ithaca Ecovillage is a vibrant community focused on sustainable living and social connection. Residents share resources and engage in various community activities.
Visit website →The Genesee Ecovillage is an urban ecovillage focused on sustainable living and community engagement. Residents share common meals, gardens, and decision-making processes to foster a close-knit environment.
Visit website →A rural ecovillage south of Ithaca where households build their own homes on shared land with a focus on permaculture and self-reliance. It welcomes families and homesteaders who want neighbors in their sustainability journey.
East Wind Community is a secular, income-sharing intentional community in rural Missouri, but they have a strong presence and connection with New York through their nut butter business. Members work together to support the community and its enterprises.
Visit website →An urban intentional community on Staten Island founded in 1979, housing dozens of members who share meals, income-sharing businesses, and daily feedback-based dialogue. Newcomers are welcomed to visit and try community life in New York City.
Affiliated with Union Theological Seminary, the Center for Earth Ethics fosters a community around environmental justice and spiritual activism. While not a traditional residential community, it offers opportunities for shared living and collaborative work on its mission.
Visit website →The Farm is a well-known intentional community in Tennessee, but its influence and connections extend to New York through its members and outreach. It is dedicated to sustainable living, nonviolence, and spiritual growth.
Visit website →The Omega Institute offers seasonal residential programs and a vibrant community experience for those participating in its workshops and retreats. It fosters a supportive environment for learning, personal growth, and connection with nature.
Visit website →While primarily an educational and cultural center, The Open Center also offers residential programs and a sense of community for those deeply engaged in its holistic and spiritual offerings. It provides a supportive environment for personal growth and shared learning.
Visit website →The Sanctuary is an intentional community in Rochester dedicated to sustainable living, social justice, and spiritual growth. Residents share meals, responsibilities, and a commitment to creating a more just and peaceful world.
Visit website →Ananda Ashram is a yoga and meditation center that also functions as a residential spiritual community. It provides a serene setting for self-discovery and communal harmony.
Visit website →A mindfulness practice center in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, home to a resident community of monks and nuns. Families and individuals are warmly welcomed for days of mindfulness and residential retreats.
Visit website →An Episcopal Benedictine monastery on the Hudson River known for its generous guesthouse ministry. Retreatants of all traditions are welcomed to share the monks' rhythm of prayer, meals, and river views.
Visit website →The Abode of the Message is a spiritual community and retreat center rooted in Sufi principles. It offers a peaceful environment for spiritual practice and communal living.
Visit website →The Brooklyn Zen Center offers residential practice opportunities for individuals committed to intensive Zen training and community life. Residents engage in daily meditation, study, and service within a supportive monastic environment.
Visit website →A Zen Buddhist monastery in the Catskills and the main house of the Mountains and Rivers Order. Lay practitioners are welcomed for weekend retreats and month-long or year-long residential training.
Visit website →A pioneering urban community land trust on Manhattan's Lower East Side that preserves deeply affordable housing through resident-controlled buildings. It grew from decades of neighborhood organizing and welcomes low-income New Yorkers into stable community.
While primarily a rooftop farm, Brooklyn Grange fosters a strong sense of community through its educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and public events. It connects urban dwellers with sustainable agriculture and local food systems.
Visit website →The Gowanus Canal Conservancy works to protect and restore the Gowanus Canal ecosystem and surrounding uplands. They build community through volunteer cleanups, educational workshops, and public events focused on environmental stewardship.
Visit website →The Point CDC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. They foster community through arts, education, and environmental programs, creating a vibrant neighborhood hub.
Visit website →The other path
If your state's list is thin, that's not a dead end; it's the reason this project exists. Three friends on one street is already a community. The guide walks you through the whole path.
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