Developing affordable, community-owned spaces for social causes.
Szövetség a Közösségi Ingatlanfejlesztésért (SZaKI), based in Budapest, Hungary, is an organization dedicated to developing and managing long-term, affordable, collectively-owned spaces for democratic communities and individuals engaged in social causes. Established with the expertise of founding members like Gólya Cooperative, Periféria Policy and Research Center, Solidarity Economy Center, and Zugló Collective House Association, SZaKI operates at the intersection of urban planning, social justice, and grassroots community-building. One of SZaKI’s flagship projects, *Ganz82*, aims to transform a former industrial site in Budapest into a multi-functional space. The site will offer affordable housing for low-income workers, community and educational facilities for students, as well as office spaces, workshops, and other resources for NGOs and cooperatives. This initiative addresses housing shortages while promoting environmental sustainability and social collaboration. SZaKI is also active on a broader scale. Through the Erasmus+ partnership project *Enablers4Housing*, the organization develops educational materials for prospective residents of community-led housing projects. This effort supports grassroots responses to housing and energy crises, particularly in Central and Southeastern Europe. By integrating solidarity economy models, SZaKI fosters a collaborative approach to urban challenges. Its projects not only deliver practical solutions, such as affordable housing and sustainable building use, but also contribute to systemic change by advocating for community-oriented real estate development. This positions SZaKI as a leading example of how innovative, socially conscious property development can address pressing urban issues.