Cooperatives
The role of housing cooperatives in Ghent, Belgium, is significant in addressing the city's housing crisis. Ghent has a strong focus on social housing, with 15,000 social houses available, though this still leaves a substantial waiting list of 10,000 households. Housing cooperatives are part of the broader strategy to manage homelessness through prevention, crisis management, and permanent housing with support.
In Ghent, housing cooperatives contribute to the social housing sector by providing affordable housing options for low- and middle-income households. The city promotes cooperative housing through various initiatives, such as the Social Rental Agency (SRA) model, which involves private developers building social housing units on city-offered land. Additionally, Ghent explores innovative financing models like Social Impact Bonds to support cooperative housing projects.
While specific market share data for housing cooperatives in Ghent is not provided, the city's emphasis on cooperative housing is evident through its integrated action plans and partnerships with private developers and non-profit organizations. New housing cooperatives have emerged in recent years, with ongoing projects such as the renovation and construction of new social housing units.