Skyline.

The CityDorms System is designed as a public-private partnership. Since the details of the nonprofit bylaws haven't been determined yet, all discussions of finances should be considered purely tentative. 

Anticipated Costs
Startup costs for managing the program are anticipated to be at least $2 million, assuming design and manufacture costs will be funded through other sources. If design and manufacture costs are directly borne by the CityDorms nonprofit, costs go up substantially.

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Income sources
CityDorms accepts donations for those who wish to schedule a team of CityTaskers to do some work. In addition, CityDorms seeks grants and donations from organizations, both public and private, that reap the benefits of this system in the form of a healthier community and a more profitable business environment.

Website design costs
Designing the website in the CityDorms system will require substantial and unknown investments of time and money. We hope to get one or more of the large tech companies to donate the initial design work. Once designed, maintenance costs should be easier to manage.

Design/Engineering/Manufacture costs
We would like to approach businesses in the local area for the engineering and design of the units and associated hardware and software. We hope to receive specific grants from city, state, or federal government to fund the design and construction of the units. This should also help create living wage jobs.

Installation costs
The majority of CityDorm hookup points will be installed on public property, at public expense, by public employees. Private property owners may also install a hookup point at their own expense. Private grants may be available to offset these costs. Land use is donated.

Water/Sewer/Power costs
Water/Sewer/Power costs will be paid by CityDorms to the local utilities, hopefully at a discount.

CityDorm Staffing Structure
The CityDorms nonprofit has a commitment to respecting skilled work of all kinds. We hope to avoid the infamous Peter Principle, in which people get promoted out of their skill set and into an area of relative incompetence. A clear hierarchy exists to promote efficiency for decision-making, but that hierarchy for decisions is not a hierarchy of worth. All work is respected in the CityDorms system, and that value extends to employees within the nonprofit.

CityDorm wage scale
The CityDorms nonprofit has a fundamental value that people should be able to pay for their own housing. For this reason, the base wage for full time work is based on the local median cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Full time employees will be paid enough to rent a one-bedroom apartment with 30% of their gross income. Part time employees will be paid the equivalent, based on hours worked. If we need more staff hours, we figure out a way to do it with volunteers or we find additional sources of income. A cost of living adjustment will be made annually to reflect changes in the rental prices. It is anticipated that pay scales will remain essentially flat during the first five years, maybe longer. Because of this commitment to living wages, initial CityDorm staffing will rely heavily upon volunteers. Initial paid positions will need to be comfortable doing many different kinds of tasks. Job descriptions will get more firm and more distinct as the system expands and we get more accurate information about the time required for different tasks.

CityDorm Staffing Departments:

Maintenance Department 
CityDorm units are delivered, connected, maintained, and repaired by the maintenance team.
Water/Sewer/Garbage Department

To simplify installation, each CityDorm unit has a cistern and a blackwater tank. The cistern is filled weekly from the closest fire hydrant. The blackwater is pumped out weekly by a pump truck, then hauled to the nearest sewage dump point. Garbage, recycling, and compost bins hang on the outside of unit to be picked up by the W/S/G department on a regular schedule.

IT department:

Website and account functionality are maintained by the IT department.
Advocates
At least two people need to be available to answer the phone and respond to the online chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To minimize staffing costs, this would be mostly volunteers. Paid Advocates would deal with more complex problems. Experience will tell what staffing is required at different levels.