Coop Housing Int'l | Student Housing Cooperatives

Student Housing Cooperatives

Student Housing Crisis

The issue of access to affordable and secure accommodation has been a major concern for students all over the world. Financial insecurity and housing precarity can limit students’ ability to focus on their studies and, in extreme cases, force them to drop out of education. It also can impact students’ mental and physical health.

The Cooperative Solution

Fortunately, student housing cooperatives have emerged as a viable solution to this problem. Based on democratic and anti-speculative principles, cooperatives are an efficient alternative to the traditional housing market by providing affordable rents and a supportive community. Several examples in the European region show the potential of this model, e.g. La Ciguë in Geneva who won the silver World Habitat Award in 2024. However, it remains too little known, and better conditions are needed for it to either develop pilot projects or scale up existing initiatives. Inspired by the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO), an alliance of nearly 40 student housing cooperatives, European student housing cooperatives came together and created a movement to support and scale up this housing model in Europe.

Pan-European Student Cooperative Housing Association

Our Mission

As a network of housing cooperative organizations, we are deeply committed to creating a pan-European association for student housing cooperatives. This is crucial to foster the emerging movement by providing cooperatives, who are currently isolated, with opportunities to exchange experiences and network with others. By doing so, they will create solidarity mechanisms beyond borders and sustain their members, even during the challenging start-up phase. Additionally, the association will help bring visibility to this model and advocate for more support from public actors, spreading the model and fighting for affordable, green/eco housing across Europe for students.

Who Are We?

Student Co-op Homes UK is a national cooperative promoting student cooperative housing in the UK. The Studentendorf Schlachtensee is a student residential complex in Berlin. La Ciguë is a non-profit student housing cooperative in Geneva. Collegium Academicum is a volunteer project that creates affordable and self-managed student housing in Heidelberg. TEK and Alliance for Community Real Estate Development (ACRED) are an alliance that promotes cooperative student housing in Budapest. North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) is an alliance of group-equity housing cooperatives that educates and supports affordable housing co-ops in the US and Canada.

Support Actors

Cooperative Housing International (CHI) is a global organization promoting cooperative housing as a viable solution. UrbaMonde-Switzerland promotes participatory housing at both local and international levels, particularly the cooperative housing model. Cooplink is an association of housing cooperatives in the Netherlands that enables the growth of cooperative living and ensures its success by sharing knowledge and experiences. The Phone Co-op Foundation for Co-operative Innovation, an association spun from The Phone Co-op in the UK, is honing in on developing student housing cooperatives. The foundation’s objective is to empower cooperatives to address social and financial issues in communities. Anke Schwittay is a Professor of Anthropology and Global Development at the University of Sussex in the UK. Anke is leading a long-term project on student housing cooperatives as a student-led response to the current student housing crisis and actively supports students’ cooperative activities.

Why create a pan-European association for student housing cooperatives?

Develop Tools and Resources: Support student housing cooperatives with resources such as guides on setting up a cooperative, managing finances, and dealing with legal issues.

Awareness: Raise awareness about the importance of cooperative housing among students, policymakers, and the wider community.

Outreach and Partnerships: Reach out to tudent organizations, housing advocacy groups, and universities to build partnerships and garner support for our initiative.

Networking and Collaboration: Facilitate networking and collaboration among student housing cooperatives. Organize events and workshops where members can share knowledge, experiences, and best practices.

Activities

Geneva Conference

A special two-day conference/gathering on October 3rd and 4th, 2024 in the beautiful city of Geneva, focusing on the impact and potential of student housing cooperatives.

Hosted by urbaMonde and Cooperative Housing International, this conference offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches to student housing. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Day 1: Housing Tour
Get an insider’s look at some of La Cigue’s exemplary student housing. This tour will showcase the practical and community-oriented solutions that make cooperative housing so effective. There will also be site visits to other non-student housing coops.
Day 2: Full Day of Exchanges
Engage in dynamic exchanges with fellow students and experts in the field. Share your experiences, learn from others, and discover new strategies to bring back to your organization. This day is designed to leave you feeling invigorated and equipped with fresh ideas. Workshop topics include conflict resolution, perspectives from different countries, financing and loans, European Student Cooperative Housing Association.

This conference is a fantastic opportunity to network, learn, and be inspired by the cooperative housing movement. Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals committed to making a difference in student housing. We held a similar event in 2020 in Zurich and Geneva and it was such a success that we are doing it again but this time only in Geneva. Contact us for more details.

International Cooperative Housing Symposium Side Event

In September 2022, the first international meeting of student housing cooperatives was held alongside the International Cooperative Housing Symposium in Zurich and Geneva. The 30 participants, mostly students, came together for a discussion surrounding the future of the European Association.

Student Housing Cooperatives of Europe – Is it Time to Unite?! May 2022

This webinar explored the benefits of European student housing cooperatives coming together under one umbrella organization. Federating will allow student housing coops to network and cooperate to further their goals of providing values-based housing to students.

Student Housing Cooperatives – an International Perspective

This was a global peer-to-peer discussion among individuals working in student housing cooperatives in Berlin, North America, the UK, Switzerland, and Australia. Leaders shared their experiences and knowledge, inspiring us to bring new housing solutions to our communities.

International Social Housing Festival – June 2023 – Barcelona: Community-led Housing Solutions for Students and Seniors

This workshop explored how housing insecurity can be a major concern for students and seniors. It featured La Ciguë (Geneva); Student Coop Homes (UK); Studentendorf (Berlin); Distrito Natural (Spain); and Fondazione Housing Sociale (Italy). They highlighted the potential of social housing and sustainable architecture to address the challenges faced by vulnerable groups including creating a supportive community for students throughout their academic journey.

Student Housing Cooperatives – Let’s Talk – April 2024

This conversation revolved around various topics, including cooperative governance, community building, sustainable practices, and navigating challenges unique to student housing cooperatives. With presentations and open dialogue, participants asked questions, shared experiences, and learned from one another.

Resources

The Organizer’s Handbook by the North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) is a comprehensive guide to creating group-equity housing cooperatives. It covers the cooperative movement, campus and community organizing, nonprofit incorporation, financing, and housing development. This essential resource demystifies a challenging project and is perfect for students and community organizers focusing on housing issues. It’s also an informative read for individuals concerned about affordable housing and college accessibility. While this edition focuses on group equity cooperatives, many resources are useful for organizing student, community, and non-housing coops. Students, affordable housing advocates, college administrators, foundations, libraries, concerned citizens, and nonprofit organizations will all find the handbook to be an excellent addition to their collection of resources.

Last Word

The vision of the cooperative movement is for individuals to come together to build more equitable, sustainable, and democratic communities. With your support, we can create a future where cooperative movements thrive, and communities are strengthened through democratic ownership and control. Join us in empowering the next wave of cooperators!