Nizhoni House

  • Community
  • 2 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Urban

What we do

Nizhoni, which means beauty, in Navajo was started in 2007 as a Project Neighborhood house connected to Calvin University and owned by Creston Church in the Creston neighborhood on the north east side of Grand Rapids. When Calvin University lost funding for their intentional community houses, Nizhoni separated from Calvin University and is now run by Creston Church. Creston has been revamping the program to include more leadership development and closer ties to neighbors and the church. Creston Church practices asset based community development, and the house is a place where residents can both learn and live out these values and skills in a supportive, faith based community.

Nizhoni house offers an intentional community living experience that combines leadership development opportunities guided by a house mentor, faith enriching spiritual rhythms, good neighbor practices, low cost living, and collaboration with a local small church rooted in hope and hospitality. Together Nizhoni house practices loving God, loving neighbor, and loving creation.

Our Vision

An intentional house where residents pursue asset-based community development alongside Creston Church

Our Mission

An intentional house where residents pursue asset-based community development alongside Creston Church

  • Community type
  • Student Co-op
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers
  • Activities
  • Education
  • 5 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
5

How to join

New residents to the house will need to apply and go through an application interview process before being able to live in the house. Please visit Creston Church’s website for application and info https://www.crestonchurch.org/

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Creston Church is comprised of about 50-80 members, of which the Nizhoni house is a close part of. Residents are required to commit to becoming active participants in the church community. We are an open and affirming church.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Single Leader or Founding Couple

One person or partnership has ultimate authority.

Governance structure

  • Collaborative/Horizontal

Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • Members need to pay fees, dues, or similar to live there on a per month or per year basis
  • There is a labor obligation
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Monthly fees/dues: $400
Labor required: 7 hours/week
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
The only fees are for rent. Residents may choose to pool money for food. Meals are usually shared together at least once a week. Otherwise, residents are free to cook as they’d like.

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Outbuilding(s), Fire pit

Frequency of communal meals

  • About once a week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use occurs primarily at celebrations or ceremonies
  • Religions
  • Christian

Property status

  • Privately owned

Setting

  • Urban

Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.

Self-produced energy

  • Up to 33%

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    .5 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Michigan, United States

Promoted Needs and Offers

Offer
  • Forming Communities
2 months ago

Cohousing ABQ: Life is better together. We're moving in during 2026. Last homes available!

We’ve broken ground on a multigenerational cohousing community along the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque, NM! Our community features 25 beautiful, energy-efficient homes clustered around a shared open space, with a fully equipped common house and a range of community amenities. A few last homes are still available — please refer to our website for up-to-date availability. These homes will be move-in ready in the summer/fall of 2026. Or you might be interested in our Wait Pool for unit sizes no longer available. Click here to watch a video of our cohousing community: https://cohousingabq.org/video Our land is on a quiet road with lots of families and kids. The neighborhood’s agricultural roots give it a rural feel, but the center of town is just a 3-minute drive away. Our community plans include play areas for kids, a shared farming area, a year-round greenhouse, an orchard, a workshop and electric vehicle charging. We are diverse in age, background and identity, representing a mix of families with children, couples and singles. We range in age from 2 to 82, and there are 13 kids in our community so far. We have created a fun, caring culture among our group, regularly getting together for meals, camping trips and play dates by the river, in addition to collaborating on our community plans and supporting one another through life’s ups and downs. In Albuquerque, there’s lots to keep us busy, from museums and galleries to nationally recognized wineries and breweries. With 310 sunny days per year, you can often find us outside—hiking, biking or skiing, or exploring the mountains, parks and historic sites all around the region. The Rio Grande that flows through the city center is a playground for kayakers, and miles of walking and cycling trails wind through its wooded banks. Reach out to us or join an upcoming Meet & Greet to learn more about becoming a part of our community! E
Offer
Offer
  • Real Estate For Sale
5 months ago

Ideal Island Property for an Intentional community - Panama

Set up an Airbnb, Retreat Centre, Intentional Community or a place for the whole family with many exceptional spots to build casitas. If you like Pina Coladas and basking in the suns rays from your deck, then read on because this empyrean spot in the Carribbean is just for you . The pineapple for the Pina Colada was picked this morning from one of the many pineapple patches dotted around the property. This property is in Bahia Grande on Isla San Cristobal in the Bocas del Toro archipelago of Panama Central America This 30 acre (12.14 hectare) property offers you a jungle with a fresh water stream, ancient trees, birds , sloths and monkeys . Sea frontage with mangroves and dolphins The property (ROP) has been recently surveyed and has over 20 years of clean documented land ownership and history and all legal requirements and due diligence is in place for an effortless transfer. There are no property taxes. Lush lawns surround the house with an abundance of herbs, bananas pineapples, coconut, sugar cane, cacao, citronella and more. The nispero constructed house (on stilts) is on a raised plateau (no flooding from high tides) and set back from the sea line to capitalise on views. It has two bedrooms en suite, lounge, dinning room, kitchen, hallway, utility room and a back and front deck. The foundations are strong enough to take another storey and there is a cement slab under the house for expansion as well as a large loft area. The house is furnished and comes with all appliances (6 burner gas stove, 2 x fridge freezers, chest freezer, washing machine, dishwasher). There is a bodega for garden implements. A boat house and two covered bays for boats. An efficient solar system comprises 14 x 390 watt panels. 3000 watt hybrid inverter. 3 x 48 volt 100 amph lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4). There are also an additional 10 x 210 watt spare panels to set up an additional system if required. A generator is available.

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