Cooperative Housing International (CHI) is one of the eight sectoral organizations of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). CHI promotes cooperative housing as both an economic and social solution to the global shelter crisis.

CHI raises global awareness by showcasing cooperative housing successes worldwide. We create networking opportunities for current and future cooperative leaders through panel discussions and symposiums. By sharing best practices and addressing key challenges, we ensure cooperative housing remains a flexible and innovative model that adapts to local housing needs.

Our active board of directors and dedicated staff implement a work program aligned with ICA’s strategic goals. The board meets four times a year, while the executive committee holds virtual meetings every month.

Although CHI does not develop cooperative housing directly, we connect members to on-the-ground technical expertise through our international network. Our website offers a comprehensive resources section with tools and information on topics such as governance and funding. Users can search by topic or country or browse through extensive materials.

Additionally, our collaboration with the CoHabitat Network expands CHI’s reach by linking us to collaborative housing initiatives worldwide. The CoHabitat Network’s digital platform functions like a wiki, providing detailed information about diverse collaborative housing projects.

As the Guidance Notes to the Cooperative Principles state, “Cooperatives are active in every sector of the global economy. A key feature is that cooperatives create wealth for their many members, who participate as service users, producers, business owners, consumers, and workers.” This principle distinguishes cooperative housing from market-driven owner-occupied or investor-owned housing. Housing cooperatives operate by and for their resident members—not for profit—and their strength lies in fostering thriving, democratic communities where people coexist and cooperate.