Episode Details

I started 2 EA(ish) group houses now, so I figured there's an opportunity to share my experience and how you too can start one!

There's a whole substack dedicated to community living, so I'll stick to the EA lens of it.

Note: My experiences are based in NYC and SF, which have a nice flow of travelers & concentration of like-minded folks. I also lived in ~4 group houses/communities prior to starting my own.

What is a Group House? (aka Intentional/Community Living)

Well, there's a few levels.

Baseline: Cohabiting

• Multiple people (3+) cohabit in a single abode. There's common spaces like the kitchen or living room.

Level 1: Friendly

• You like to talk to each other in common spaces.

Level 2: Spending Time

• You join in on serendipitous activities happening inside the house - joining someone playing video games or watching a movie. Cooking and sharing food.

Level 3: Intentionality

• You initiate house activities, have active rituals ((like weekly house meetings or monthly brunch), communication channels beyond necessary logistics (sending memes or interesting articles). You enjoy spending time together inside or outside the house.

Level 4: Schelling Point Hub

• Your house is a schelling point [...]

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Outline:

(00:40) What is a Group House? (aka Intentional/Community Living)

(01:50) Things That Happened to Me Because I Lived in an EA Group House

(02:04) I became AI Safety-pilled!

(02:30) We hosted a slew of out-of-towners visiting

(03:00) I got connected to opportunities.

(03:18) We became a somewhat informal Schelling point.

(03:41) Misconceptions

(03:45) Im an introvert.

(04:10) Do you just talk about EA all the time? Is it just a prolonged EA meetup in your home?

(04:36) I dont know anyone to start this with. None of my friends want to do a group house.

(05:08) Great For...

(05:50) Not Great For...

(06:25) Heres How

(06:28) 1. Plant a Flag (Find a Place to Rent)

(06:52) 2. Find People (What most people are afraid of. Indeed, the most legwork.)

(07:20) 3. Have a Vision

(07:37) 4. Select and Sign the House

(07:45) 5. House Governance & Logistics

(08:50) 6. Things That Might Happen Over Time

(09:09) Ask: In the comments, share your experience of the EA Group House life!

(09:28) Resources

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First published:
May 6th, 2026

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/g84GTm6BcKwxCjYXq/the-ea-case-for-an-ea-group-house-how-to-start-one-its-easy

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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