Mission

As a network of housing cooperative organizations, the European Student Cooperative Housing Alliance (ESCHA) is 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, ESCHA will help bring visibility to the student cooperative housing model and advocate for more support from public actors, spreading the model and fighting for affordable, green/eco housing across Europe for students.

Who is ESCHA?

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 European Alliance for Student Housing Cooperatives?

Develop Practical Resources: Provide student housing cooperatives with essential tools such as step-by-step guides for establishing co-ops, managing finances, and navigating legal challenges.

Increase Awareness: Promote the value of cooperative housing among students, policymakers, and the broader public to highlight its benefits and encourage support.

Build Strategic Partnerships: Engage student groups, housing advocates, and universities to form strong alliances that advance cooperative housing initiatives.

Foster Networking and Collaboration: Connect student housing cooperatives through events and workshops, enabling members to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and adopt best practices.

Past Events

European Student Housing Cooperative Alliance (ESCHA) Conference

A special two-day conference/gathering on October 3rd and 4th, 2024 in the beautiful city of Geneva, focused on the impact and potential of student housing cooperatives. Hosted by urbaMonde and Cooperative Housing International, this conference offered a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches to student housing.

Day 1: Housing Tour

This day of exchanges and visits allowed participants to better understand Geneva’s cooperative housing landscape by visiting three exemplary housing cooperatives in the eco-neighbourhood of Les Vergers de Meyrin. This tour showcased the practical and community-oriented solutions that make cooperative housing effective.

La Ciguë : A student-focused cooperative offering low-cost, eco-friendly housing since 1986, with communal spaces, gardens, and a focus on self-management.

CODHA : Founded in 1994, this coop promotes participation and solidarity, with over 750 units and community spaces like gardens, a gym, and guest rooms.

Equilibre : Since 2005, it has fostered sustainable living through eco-conscious construction and collective planning, currently testing compostable toilets.

Day 2: Full Day of Exchanges

Students from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and the UK and experts in the field engaged in dynamic exchanges, shared their experiences and discovered new strategies to bring back to their organizations.  The event focussed on the impact and potential of student housing cooperatives through workshops, presentations and discussions. Workshop topics included conflict resolution, perspectives from different countries, financing and loans, and the value of developing a Pan-European Student Cooperative Housing Association.

This conference was a fantastic opportunity for students and experts to network, share experiences, and learn new strategies for their organizations. Watch this great video put together by Cork Student Housing Co-operative that summarizes the event.

The students left inspired and plan to bring these ideas to their housing cooperatives. They will also build on the momentum created in Geneva to continue working together on common goals with student housing coops across Europe.

 

International Cooperative Housing Symposium Side Event – September 2022

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

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

In this webinar, we explored the benefits of European student housing cooperatives coming together under one umbrella organization. By federating, student housing co-ops can more effectively network and collaborate, which in turn strengthens their ability to pursue shared goals. Ultimately, this collective approach supports their mission of providing values-based, affordable housing to students across Europe.

Student Housing Cooperatives – an International Perspective

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

At the International Social Housing Festival in June 2023, Barcelona, this workshop focused on community-led housing solutions for students and seniors facing housing insecurity. The event featured projects like La Ciguë (Geneva); Student Coop Homes (UK); Studentendorf (Berlin); Distrito Natural (Spain); and Fondazione Housing Sociale (Italy). These initiatives showcased how social housing and sustainable architecture can effectively address the unique challenges vulnerable groups face, while fostering supportive communities that enhance students’ academic and personal lives.

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.  Student Coop Homes (UK), Studentendorf (Berlin), Budapest Housing (Hungary), Collegium Academicum (Heidelberg, Germany), Berkeley Student Coop, North American Students for Cooperation NASCO talked about the unique features of their organizations.