top of page

System Overview

This page is full of information that doesn't display well on a mobile device. For the full experience, please access on a larger device. This is a quick content summary.

​

The CityDorms System is a miniature economy in which anyone may exchange fair labor for fair housing. Like any economy, the CityDorm System has employers, workers, a medium of exchange (currency), and product to be purchased. Unlike most economies, the CityDorm System is carefuly managed to prevent competition with market-rate housing and jobs.

​

The employers are TaskLeads, city workers who can put out a call for volunteers to assist with any low-skill task. These jobs are called CityTasks. The workers are CityTaskers, people who have signed up to receive alerts and do volunteer work for the city. The medium of exchange is volunteer hours turned into an electronic currency, called EvergreenHours. Essentially, they're barter credits. The product is CityDorms, which are secure, sanitary housing units.

​

At the end of each CityTask, both the TaskLead and the CityTasker rate each other. This feedback process helps moderate power inequalities and keeps everyone on their best behavior. Persistent low scores would trigger intervention.


More detailed information about all of these elements can be found elsewhere on the site, in a mobile-friendly format.

The CityDorms system is a miniature economy in which anyone may exchange fair labor for fair housing. Like any economy, the CityDorm system has employers, workers, a currency, and product to be purchased. Unlike the larger economy, it has active management in each of those areas, with trained advocates ready to step in and fix problems quickly. Those limits keep the CityDorms economic system balanced, but they also keep it small. The CityDorms economic system supplements the weakest points in the mainstream economy, but is carefully designed to avoid direct competition with market rate jobs and housing. This micro-economy allows the development of natural social support networks, which are often more flexible and effective than standard social services, and certainly much cheaper.

A good analogy might be the caulking used to waterproof the connection point between a tub and the surrounding walls. Without caulking, water seeps behind the tub, eventually rotting out the walls. With caulking, the walls remain strong. But while caulking is a vitally important component, it is not possible or desirable to make an entire bathtub from caulk. Too many people are falling through the cracks in the mainstream economic system. The CityDorms micro-economy fills in those cracks, giving us all a better chance to thrive.

​

Please note: All the names for the various elements are boring and should be replaced by better ones.

The roles

The Jobs:

Anyone, public or private, may contact the TaskLead Center with a job proposal. Appropriate jobs would be anything that could be done by a group of 10-20 people with minimal training and equipment. Trash pickup, scrubbing, trimming blackberries, sweeping, and weeding to bare earth would be good examples. Think "work party". A team needs to have at least two hours of work available. If the job is considered appropriate, a generous donation is made to CityDorms to reserve the time. The recommended minimum donation is $50 an hour. At the agreed upon time and day, a TaskLead arrives, organizing and supervising a crew of CityTaskers to complete the assigned task. After the task is completed and the CityTaskers have departed, the TaskLead negotiates with the donor for the realistic market value of the work performed. If the donation was larger than the realistic market value of the work performed, the donor gets a receipt noting the excess donation as tax-deductible.
 

Employees: CityTaskers

Anyone who is at least 18 years old may start a CityTasker account. This process allows them to receive alerts about upcoming tasks posted by TaskLeads. A CityTasker can set various filters so they only receive alerts about tasks they might want.

​

Currency: volunteer hour credits

CityTaskers are "paid" in volunteer hour credits, which is simply a way to record the volunteer work they've done. This "currency" is created as needed and vanishes once spent. The credits belong to the person who earned them, are fully transferable, and never expire.

​

Product: Housing 
A CityDorm is a small housing unit, measuring 8 feet by 12 feet connected to water, sewer, and electricity. It contains a height adjustable sleeping platform, a toilet, a handheld shower, a sink, and power outlets. Temperature is managed with a mini-split heat pump. Natural light is provided by translucent panels to protect the privacy of the resident. Security cameras, accessible through the tenant's account, monitor activity outside of the unit. The door is unlocked with an RFID card. Rent includes garbage, recycling, and compost pickup, plus a weekly metered ration of water and electricity. It does not include parking, though some sites may have parking available in the area. For more detailed information about the housing units, click here.

​

The Underlying Infrastructure:
A Fair Chance LLC (proposed name) is a nonprofit with paid staff to make this all work.

  • TaskLeads, who direct and manage the CityTaskers as they do the work to earn their credits.

  • Advocates, who manage problems big and small.

  • Security Team, that responds to problems that may involve physical threat or criminal activity

  • Technical support team, who deal with the inevitable glitches with the CityDorms and accounts.

  • Installation team, which installs and repairs hookup points and CityDorms

  • ...and more! These would all be paid at living wages, so that our staff has the option of renting market-rate housing, if they so wish.

The job

Step 1: A TaskLead posts a job.

​

Step 2: A CityTasker sees the job and claims it online.

​

Step 3: Before the job begins, the TaskLead checks out a mobile RFID reader and downloads the information about the job. This reader serves many functions

  • confirms CityTasker identity and eligibility

  • acts as a timeclock to begin and end work

  • creates and deposits the necessary volunteer credits to the CityTasker's account

  • prompts CityTasker to evaluate the TaskLead

  • prompts the TaskLead to evaluate the CityTasker

  • creates a way for a TaskLead to fire the CityTasker (if necessary), and record why that step was necessary

​

Step 4: CityTasker arrives, introduces themselves, and checks into the job by tapping their RFID card on the reader.

 

Step 5: TaskLead instructs the CityTasker in the job, which the CityTasker completes to the best of their ability. Either the TaskLead or the CityTasker can end the job at any time.

​

Step 6: The CityTasker checks out by tapping their RFID card on the reader. Both CityTasker and TaskLead are then prompted to evaluate each other. For more detailed information on this process, see "Understanding Evaluations."
 

Step 7: Once both evaluations have been given, the appropriate number of volunteer credits are automatically deposited to the CityTasker's account.

The housing

CityDorm Units:

A CityDorm is a small housing unit, measuring 8 feet by 12 feet, connected to water, sewer, and electricity. It is built offsite and delivered to the hookup point by truck. It contains a height adjustable sleeping platform, a toilet, a handheld shower, a sink, power outlets, security cameras, and an electronic lock. For more detailed information about CityDorm units, click here.
 

Hookup point

Any property owner, public or private, may lease a site to A Fair Chance LLC. A site is approximately the size of a standard parking spot. All sites need to be level, accessible by truck, and relatively close to water, sewer, and power lines. A Fair Chance will install a low-profile hookup point and anchors for a potential CityDorm unit. Note that the hookup point can only be used with a CityDorms unit, and cannot be used for an RV or mobile home.

Placement of a CityDorm unit

Connecting a CityDorm to a hookup point is based on local request. A qualified CityTasker must present personal recommendations from two residents who live within a half-mile of the proposed installation site. After the two recommendations are confirmed, a CityDorm unit is shipped to the site and hooked up. An e-mail or text will inform the petitioner once the unit is installed. The petitioner then has one week to take occupancy of the unit, or it is released back into the general housing stock.When tenant moves out, the CityDorm unit is added to the general housing stock, and is available for rent online.

The renters

Establishing Eligibility
This is not a charity program. It is a fair exchange of labor for housing, run as a public amenity. Much like parks and libraries, it is available to people of any income bracket, regardless of need. Eligibility standards demonstrate basic competence and local residence. These include:

  • Start a CityTasker account. Final activation of a CityTasker account must be done in person. This establishes that the individual is an adult human being, physically present in the local area.

  • Earn 10 hours of volunteer credits. While these credits may be bought and sold, a CityTasker is not eligible to rent a CityDorm until they have earned 10 hours. This ensures that all CityDorm residents have put personal effort into the city, and helps establish residence.

  • Maintain an evaluation average higher than 2. This helps to establish competence and responsibility. Someone unable to maintain an evaluation standard above 2 is unlikely to be a good neighbor.

​

Paying rent

A CityDorm rents for 5 volunteer hours per week. Rent is deducted automatically from the card when the door is unlocked. If there are not enough credits on the card, the door doesn't unlock. Failure to pay rent or officially move out triggers a flag for an Advocate to check on the renter's well-being.

​

Renting a unit

Once a CityTasker has established eligibility, they may rent one CityDorm anywhere in the city. They may also request the placement of a new CityDorm.

​

Maintaining Eligibility

CityTaskers retain occupancy of their unit as long as they meet two criteria: pay rent and don't annoy the neighbors. Rent is an automatically renewing week-to-week contract. Advocates intervene promptly when neighbor relations become stressed, and take action to resolve the situation for the mutual satisfaction of all. If this isn't possible, various enforcement actions may be taken.

bottom of page