Have your say: the Cooperative Identity, from a housing perspective
The Cooperative Identity — the shared values and principles that unite cooperatives worldwide — is being revisited for the first time in decades. The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) has released Discussion Draft 2 of proposed changes to the Statement on the Cooperative Identity, reflecting the feedback gathered during the ICA Global Conference in New Delhi.
Comments are open until 30 November 2025
Submit your views via the official consultation platform: coopidentity.ica.coop
Why this matters for housing cooperatives
At Cooperative Housing International (CHI), we believe that access to decent, affordable housing is fundamental to a fair and sustainable society.
Housing cooperatives demonstrate how people can take control of their living conditions through collective ownership, democratic decision-making, and mutual support — turning housing from a commodity into a community asset.
As the cooperative movement revisits its Identity, it’s crucial that this renewal reflects the realities of the housing sector, where cooperatives are tackling today’s pressing challenges: affordability, the energy transition, social inclusion, and the right to housing.
By joining this consultation, housing cooperatives can:
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Affirm the central place of housing within the cooperative movement — ensuring that home and community remain core to how we define cooperation.
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Bring forward lived experience of member-driven housing models that combine affordability with participation and long-term stewardship.
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Highlight innovation and resilience, showing how housing co-ops contribute to climate action and social cohesion.
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Strengthen solidarity among cooperatives of all sectors by contributing a grounded, people-centred perspective.
How to participate
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Read Discussion Draft 2 and the Guiding Questions
→ Draft changes to the Statement on the Cooperative Identity -
Share your feedback through the online consultation forum or by email to consultations@ica.coop.
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Discuss locally — housing cooperatives are encouraged to hold internal discussions or member meetings before submitting comments.
Your voice counts
This consultation is an opportunity to shape how our movement expresses its purpose and values for the decades ahead. Let’s make sure that housing cooperatives — as engines of community, democracy, and sustainability — are fully reflected in that vision.
Contribute before 30 November 2025 via coopidentity.ica.coop