----- Steps 1 to 3

Step 1 - discover nonpayment or not follow thru on payment plan

step 2 - person is given official notice in writing that he/she/they have x days to resolve the issue

step 3 - take action

------------ step 1. discover nonpayment or not following thru on payment plan

Assume there is an honest mistake or miscommunication on the house and or person side. Hopefully this can easily resolved by quickly discussing the issue.

If you believe the person is not being honest, then you are letting the person know your understanding of what is happening.

Some groups may respond with designated person talking, nothing written

Some groups may want to start with an official letter stating amount owed, include nonpayment policy

A person, in addition to designated person, needs to be up to date on what is happening. So, he/she/they can take over if designated person is suddenly sick/unavailable.

Once the person is informed, the person has X days to resolve the issue.

Resolving issue means

- paying in full

- partially so amount owed is reduced to below X$ amount

- get an approved payment plan

- get an approved Exit plan.

If amount is below X dollars, such as one month rent/dues, maybe there is nothing more to be done if person does not respond. Likely the deposit can cover this amount when they leave. Remind the person every so often that an amount remains owed. This is to check that house and person are in agreement on amount owed.

----------- step 2. let person know issue is not resolved

Person owes more than X dollars and it is not covered by approved payment plan or exit plan

Person has resolved the issue by date stated in step 1

The person is given a letter stating how much is owed, given a copy of the rent payment policies, his/her their recent or full payment history and states by what date this needs to be resolved.

Include possible consequences if person does not resolve by X date. This does not mean the group has to do take these steps immediately. This is being clear about the serious of the situation and possible consequences if this goes unresolved. So, there are no surprises.

Resolving issue means

- paying in full

- partially so amount owed is reduced to below X$ amount

- get an approved payment plan

- get an approved Exit plan.

---------- step 3. take action

If not resolved by date stated in letter. The committee is required to make a decision.

Some possibilities:

- Give a new date that the issue needs to be resolved by and inform person in writing

- initiate eviction

- initiate ending membership

- ? (I don’t know what ever situation will involve)

If person does not resolve issue be date stated in letter, do step 3 again.

Begin legal eviction process might need to happen, which sucks. Is there a limit to how long a person can not pay and live in the house ?

------- Comments about steps

The “giving more time” allows for flexibility.

The requirement the committee make a decision after time runs outs ensures the issue is not ignored.

The payment plan gives a way for a person to work with the house and the house to help the member thru a period of time.

The house will have to decide what the limits are for giving a person more time to pay. This could be total dollar amount, # of days owed, number of time person doesn’t follow thru on agreements, etc.

What is dues/rent payment based on ?

- Who is liked and cool ?

- Following thru on an agreement ?

The group may want to charge a non-payment fee or late payment fee of X$ or X minutes of work around house. The point of the fine is not to punish, which is why it is small one time fee. It is to remind the person that this is really not okay. If you are paying people to manage this, this increases their work hours, therefore increases operating costs. If it is volunteers, then this requiring volunteers to do something they don’t enjoy. This is an easy way to loose volunteers. If they don’t pay, it can be taken out of their deposit. If they demand their whole deposit back when they leave, then give them the deposit back. Sometimes separating is more important than collecting money.

If about to evict someone, consider dropping all late fees in exchange for him/her moving out voluntarily. Going thru court takes time, money plus person is still in the house while going thru court process.

I believe having a clear process increases the odds that the non-payment issue be dealt efficiently, effectively and with compassionate. It can help a difficult situation go smoother. The smoother things go, the more likely people will be able to help the person (who has not paid) stay or move on.

Ignoring one person not paying is very dangerous for the continuation of the house. Those who pay will get tired of this and leave. The house will attract more non-payers than payers. Because the payers will keep leaving. The non-payers will stay. At what point does everyone (non-payers and payers) loose their housing because the house closes

Having people on the non-payment committee, who don’t live in the same house is very helpful. They can provide a perspective that those living in the same house as the non-payer will have trouble facing.

------- Payment plans

A payment plan must be approved by the whole house or a committee.

The plan states full the amount owed, stating $ amount and date of payment(s).

Or, the plan states how much is owed. What the person will do to start paying or when does he/she check in with the group. If the person is paying monthly, then the person needs to meet with committee to create a new payment plant to cover the increase in unpaid rent/dues.

Two key questions when deciding to approve or not approve a payment plan

How many people believe the person has the resources to follow thru on the plan ?

How many people believe the person intends to follow thru on the plan ?

A payment plan can be used as a delay tactic. The house may want to set limits on when payment plans are no longer an option, such as after owing more than x dollars or after violating x number payment plans.

A benefit of a house approving is social pressure. The fewer people who know what is going on, the easier and more comfortable it is for the person to break their agreement with the house. And, the more weight fewer people carry for keeping the house financially afloat.

The payment plan acknowledges debt and what is being done about it. This provides clarity and had great flexibility.

An example:

Jarlie pays $1000 a month in dues. Has paid consistently for a few years. In late February 2026, Jarlie informs the committee that he can’t pay March dues because he lost his job. Jarlie offers this payment plan. He agrees $1000 of dues is owed. He is seeking employment and unemployment insurance for income. He agrees to meet with a committee member during the last week of March to update the committee. The committee accepts the plan. Now no one needs about this until Jarlie meets with a committee member during the last week of March. During the last week of March, Jarlie meets with a committee member and says he has no job yet and unemployment refused his application.

Payment plan proposal – He agrees $2000 of dues is owed. He is seeking employment and refiling for unemployment. He agrees to meet with a committee member during last week of April.

This process can continue for months. Maybe, Jarlie will

- offer the same payment plan because his situation hasn’t changed

- get a job or source of income in April and start paying partially or in full each month plus start paying down owed amount.

- he moves to a cheaper room in the house.

- he decides to move out

- house reduces his dues

- ?

The key is Jarlie is communicating with the committee and following thru on agreements.

And the committee is following thru on its agreements with Jarlie

The payment plan is in writing, so there is clarity on who is doing what and when.

----- Exit agreement

This is about creating agreement that helps the member and house end sharing housing and food in the most effective, efficient and compassionate way possible.

The exit agreement may cover things such as:

- leaving date

- does person continue storing anything at house after leaving

- taking any house property with him/her

- leaving any personal items for house,

- is deposit or equivalent returned or not returned or partially returned

- maybe an agreement on how much is owed if person leaves by X date

- maybe a payment plan for person to repay house after he/she leaves

Consider reducing final amount owed if person leaves voluntarily

I recommend relieving the former member any obligation or expectation to attend house meetings or do chores. It is time to separate.

How does house agree to an exit plan ?

The house could use its regular decision making process to approve an exit plan.

The house could ask an exit team to present plan to house, assume it is approved unless there are any objections.

Do what works for your house and situation.