Cooperatives
Housing cooperatives in European cities play a crucial role in providing affordable, community-driven, and democratically governed housing. They promote social equality and often support sustainability and renewable energy initiatives. In cities like those in Switzerland, housing cooperatives have been successful due to their ability to manage their own housing and administrative processes collaboratively, ensuring resident participation and democratic influence.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in housing cooperatives, with new models and projects emerging. For example, in Sweden, there are inspiring examples of cooperative housing for the elderly, while in Spain, the NETCO project has been highlighted as a collaborative housing program. In Italy, there are 600 housing cooperatives managing a substantial number of units, emphasizing the social management model for young people.
Cities promote cooperative housing through supportive frameworks, legal and financial assistance, and by fostering community-driven projects. Housing Europe hosts sessions to showcase new local actions and evaluate legal and financial frameworks, facilitating discussions with European Commission and financial institutions.