MOBA: Rethinking needs and financing for affordable rental and cooperative housing in Central and South-Eastern Europe
The Radical Housing Journal (RHJ) recently featured a conversation with Csaba Jelineka and Zsuzsanna Pósfai, members of the MOBA collective network, regarding the need for supportive institutional and financial conditions for community-led housing initiatives. MOBA Housing SCE is a European Cooperative Society that offers a unique housing opportunity for individuals unable to purchase an apartment. This includes young individuals seeking independence, those without a permanent job, and those with an average or lower income. Furthermore, MOBA introduces a novel cooperative approach in Central and South-Eastern Europe, providing a more affordable way of living. MOBA’s unique approach is not only a great solution for those in need of affordable housing, but it also has the potential to create a more sustainable and equitable society.
They discussed the challenges faced by affordable rental and cooperative housing in Central and South-Eastern Europe. Furthermore, they explored how catalytic capital investment can help provide affordable rental and cooperative housing in the region. MOBA’s large-scale study on this topic was also discussed. The conversation also delved into the need to broaden alternative housing models and the financial products that can enable the affordable rental and cooperative housing sector. The importance of international solidarity and networks in this regard was also emphasized.
A 2022 research project in eight Central and South-Eastern European countries found that the currently available housing finance tools are inadequate to support the emergence of affordable rental and cooperative housing in the region. MOBA Housing SCE aims to solve this problem by creating a bottom-up revolving fund to financially support local projects.
Take a look at the article “MOBA: Rethinking needs and financing for affordable rental and cooperative housing in Central and South-Eastern Europe” published by Radical Housing Journal (ISSUE 6.1).