Four Moms Join Forces To Create And Live In Communal 'Siren House' With Their Kids

Aug 25, 2022 by apost team

In 2020, Holly Harper and Herrin Hopper decided to move in together. Both women had recently gotten divorced and had joked casually about forming a commune in order to save on rent. There would be another set of hands to help with chores, their children could play together, and with a big suburban yard, neither would "have to walk down three flights of stairs just to take the dog out to pee," as per Insider.

It was all an elaborate fantasy until the two actually found a four-unit house where they could easily make their fantasy a reality. When compared to the cost of living as a single parent in Washington, DC, an intentional community seemed both cheaper and easier. Later in an interview, Hooper commented, "Holly and I said, 'Why not do this?'" 

The home they chose "was built in 1927 and retains the wavy glass windows, tall ceilings, and original heart-pine floors that everyone adores." In addition to themselves and their children, the women also invited two other mothers– Jen Jacobs and Leandra Nicola– to join them. Together, they split utilities, cleaning responsibilities, and a bottle of champagne during "homeowner meetings."  

In a 2022 essay, Harper detailed some of the benefits she's seen since moving. She wrote, "The financial, social, and emotional benefits have been life-changing. Not only do I get to save money every month, but I get to live beyond my means by pooling our extra belongings and using them when needed." 

The plethora of gadgets, tools, and gym equipment definitely sounds like one of the perks of shared living. 

Given each woman has a different set of skills and interests, their home has become stocked with everything and anything either of them could ever need. Harper touched on this more hidden benefit, explaining, "Everyone has stuff they use two times a year — the sewing machine, the stand mixer, the jigsaw, the sleeping bags ... now it feels like I have all the things, because we get to share everything." In addition to always having cupcake liners or a cordless drill on hand, Hopper said, "There is almost a spiritual safety net every day here." 

Of course, there will always be a few mixups. With so many kids ranging in age from 9 to 14, keeping clothes straight can be difficult. "We don’t know whose socks are whose ... socks everywhere,” Hopper admitted. “iPads, dishes, cups. There’s a lot of exchanging that occurs. Usually not planned.” The kids have also formed a "cousin-like" bond and have a constant supply of playmates in the house. 

The women have taken to calling their creation "Siren House," after the mythological creatures, only without the "luring people to their death" part. The benefit to their children and the sharing of child-minding responsibilities seems to be a big appeal of their arrangement. "For our kids, Siren House is better than any children's museum, art studio, or playground. While they each have their bedrooms with loaded bookshelves and personal toys, they also have access to the community's open library of fun," Harper explained. 

Additionally, the four women seem to see themselves as symbols of strength arising from difficulty. "Siren is a form of sort of feminist power, right?" Hopper told reporters. "We’re building a community, we sort of have the siren song so we bring people together."

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Would you live in a shared house with three other families? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and "Siren House" fans!