Housing Co-operative 2.0: how could a co-operative housing model work in the modern Irish housing landscape?
This award-winning essay explores the historical context of the housing cooperative model in Ireland. Moreover, it examines how this model is currently being implemented in various countries around the world. By analyzing Ireland’s past and contemporary international housing cooperative projects, the author offers recommendations for the model’s future development in Ireland.
The essay discusses the rich history of the cooperative housing movement in Ireland. It highlights its significance from the 1950s to the 1980s in providing affordable homes and fostering intentional, sustainable communities. Additionally, the essay addresses the barriers and challenges housing cooperatives face in Ireland by examining the legislative landscape in which housing cooperatives and community land trusts operate.
Furthermore, the author presents case studies of recent housing cooperative schemes in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. While the report offers a useful overview of various examples of social, affordable, and cooperative housing in different countries, it aims to take it a step further by analyzing these examples and applying the insights to the Irish context.
This essay won The Housing Agency Essay Prize in 2024. Written by Haley Curran, Policy Manager with Co-operative Housing Ireland. The full essay can be viewed at the following link.