Expansion Manual

HOUSING THE COLONY/CHAPTER

"Fraternity Housing is more of a journey, than a destination...

The FarmHouse Association's primary goal is to find adequate temporary housing for the colony as soon as possible. Often, however, the FarmHouse colony reaches the point at which it is ready for some form of common housing before the Association has been formally organized. In this event, it is recommended that a FarmHouse Alumnus or potential associate member accompany the colony member(s) who approach a landlord about housing. Practically every colony's/chapter's first home is rented, not owned.

There are good reasons why it would be beneficial for an alumnus or potential association member to accompany the colony member(s) trying to secure housing:

1) The landlord may hesitate to rent to a group of men calling themselves a fraternity. The colony members should explain the goals and objectives of FarmHouse to the potential landlord, emphasizing their desire to maintain the FarmHouse record of scholastic achievement and gentlemanly conduct, and their pledge not to allow alcoholic beverages on the property. The presence of an alumnus will let the landlord know that there are sponsors for the FarmHouse colony who support the colony and want to help these young men uphold their promises, and someone to whom the landlord can turn if he is unhappy with the colony.

2) The alumnus can assist in negotiating a fair and equitable agreement between the landlord and the colony. His presence will help to remind the landlord that the colony's sponsors, as well as the colony itself, expect both parties to live up to the terms of the agreement.

FINDING SUITABLE RENTAL PROPERTY

The university may be able to accommodate the colony/chapter on a residence hall floor, in university-owned apartments, in university buildings reserved for fraternity/sorority living, or other housing which the university owns adjacent to campus. The most likely person to approach regarding the rental of university property would be the Fraternity Affairs Advisor and/or the Vice President/Dean of Student Affairs.

There are, of course, many other options for locating suitable rental property. All one has to do is keep his eyes open and ask enough questions.

Determination of what is "suitable" rental property is dependent on many variables. The main idea behind common housing for the colony members is a place where they can assemble to enjoy one anther's company; where they make plans for all of the events that will lead them to becoming a chapter of FarmHouse; a place they can call "home". It would not be impossible for a group of men to enjoy a good fraternal experience without common housing. However, without such, the colony members will have to work harder to be able to meet together and become acquainted with one another. Also, the spontaneity of fun events and of helping one another accomplish group and personal goals can be hampered.
Here are some variables to consider in locating housing suitable to your FarmHouse colony:

1) How many men will it comfortably house? It would be great if it will house all the men in the colony and still leave room for some growth, but this may be neither economically feasible nor physically possible. A home that is able to house only a portion of the men in the colony may have to suffice for awhile.

2) Can the colony members eat together there? If kitchen facilities are not adequate to serve at least the men living in the house, consider looking elsewhere. Mealtime is one time of the day when everyone sits down together and the "family" atmosphere is enhanced. At times FarmHouse colony and chapters have been housing in facilities which did not have the capacity for serving meals, but were close enough to university residence halls that the members could walk to the cafeterias and eat together.

3) Is there sufficient room to hold colony/chapter meetings there?

4) Is this property which the FarmHouse Association might wish to purchase at a later date? If so, perhaps the landlord might be willing to offer a lease with an option to buy.

5) Is the property going to require more than normal or reasonable maintenance and repairs?

6) Is this a home in which the colony/chapter members can be comfortable and enjoy, at least temporarily? This is the most important consideration of all. Colony and chapter members may have to sacrifice certain comforts and luxuries until more suitable housing can be found, but if they are not willing to make such concessions in the beginning, look elsewhere. Of course, if the colony members are being unreasonable in what they expect in their first home, more communication will have to take place between the colony and the alumni of the Association.

These are some, but by no means all, of the things to consider in choosing the colony's/chapter's home. It will most likely be many years before a chapter is able to move into an "ideal" home. Satisfying as many of the variables as possible without placing an undue hardship on the colony or Association is all that can be expected in the beginning of every FarmHouse colony's/chapter's life.

THE FARMHOUSE ASSOCIATION AS PRIMARY LESSEE

As was mentioned earlier, the colony may be ready for housing before the Association is formed. At such time as the Association is formed, it is strongly recommended that the Association become the primary lessee of the rental property, which the colony/chapter occupies. The association can then sub-lease to the colony/chapter. Such an arrangement has many advantages over the colony/chapter being the primary lessee. Some of these were suggested earlier, but here is a recap:

1) The landlord may be more willing to rent to the Association than to the colony/chapter.

2) The Association can negotiate leasing terms with the owner of the property in order to insure a clear understanding between the owner and the colony/chapter regarding such matters as rental payments, responsibility for repairs, and an option agreement should the chapter wish to buy the structure in the future.

3) This arrangement provides a natural channel of communication between the colony/chapter and the Association.

4) Since the Association must be the owner of any real property acquired by the chapter, this arrangement will already have the chapter and Association working together when such time arrives as the Association does decide to buy or build.

A sample operating agreement between an Association and colony/chapter is included.