CHI Launches Global Survey on Cooperative Housing Laws

Cooperative Housing International (CHI) is conducting a global survey to gather insights on the laws and policies that govern housing cooperatives across different countries. The goal is to create a comprehensive resource that covers key areas of cooperative law, including governance, membership rights and responsibilities, financing, taxation, dispute resolution, and regulatory oversight.

This initiative, known as the International Legal Research Analysis Initiative (ILRAI), is based on questions developed in partnership with the ICA Cooperative Law Committee and the broader cooperative housing community. So far, respondents from Canada (Québec and British Columbia), Zimbabwe, Sweden, India, France, Tanzania, Australia and Ireland, have completed the questionnaire, with more expected to follow.

By collecting input from cooperative housing federations and apex organizations, the project aims to provide comparative analyses of critical legal issues affecting the housing cooperative sector. The findings will equip CHI members with up-to-date legal knowledge to support their advocacy efforts for better legislative frameworks and help reform laws that are inconsistent with cooperative principles.

The results of the research will be published and presented in 2025 during the International Year of Cooperatives.

Swedish Innovations in Sustainability

Sweden is known for its innovative approach to sustainability, and housing cooperatives there have been at the forefront of integrating sustainable practices into everyday living. Here are some examples of sustainability initiatives in housing cooperatives across Sweden:

1. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Use

Many Swedish housing cooperatives have adopted energy-efficient solutions and renewable energy sources. For example, HSB Living Lab in Gothenburg is a collaborative research and innovation project that functions as a living laboratory for sustainable housing. The building has solar panels, a geothermal heating system, and energy-efficient windows to reduce energy consumption. The project focuses on experimenting with new materials, construction methods, and technologies to help make homes more sustainable and energy-efficient. Watch our video to learn more about the Living Lab.

2. Green Building Certification

A growing number of housing cooperatives in Sweden are obtaining green building certifications such as Miljöbyggnad, a Swedish system that rates buildings based on their energy use, indoor environment, and material selection. The cooperative Brf Vivain Gothenburg is certified as a “Miljöbyggnad Gold” building, the highest rating for environmental performance in Sweden. Developed by Riksbyggen, Brf Viva incorporates sustainable materials, smart energy management systems, the Reuse of bus batteries as energy storage for solar and a greenhouse with 12 cultivation beds. It’s not a surprise that Brf Viva has won numerous architectural and environmental awards such as the Betong magazine’s Environmental Award of the Year.

Riksbyggen, a Swedish cooperative housing company and CHI member, focuses on building long-lasting, climate-friendly structures by incorporating sustainable practices, such as installing solar panels on all new constructions and using eco-friendly concrete. They are committed to achieving fossil-free vehicles and work machines by 2025 and reducing energy consumption by 30% by 2030. Riksbyggen also values community well-being, offering shared spaces for social activities, green courtyards, and accessible recycling options to create homes that enhance daily life. Read more about Riskbyggen’s sustainability efforts.

CHI Board of Directors and General Assembly Set to Convene in New Delhi

On November 28, Cooperative Housing International (CHI) will hold a Board meeting and General Assembly in New Delhi, bringing together leaders from the global cooperative housing movement to discuss key developments and future initiatives. This important gathering will serve as a platform for shaping the organization’s strategic direction and furthering its mission to promote and support cooperative housing worldwide.

The day will begin with the CHI Board of Directors meeting where key governance matters, ongoing projects, and current challenges will be addressed. This meeting allows the board to reflect on the progress made in the past year, evaluate ongoing initiatives, and discuss plans for future growth and development.

Following the Board meeting, the General Assembly will approve CHI’s work plan, budget, and strategic priorities for the coming year, providing members with a clear roadmap of the organization’s key initiatives and goals for 2024.  During this session, updated statutes will be presented, incorporating amendments needed to strengthen CHI’s governance framework and ensure it remains aligned with recent amendments to the International Cooperative Alliance’s statutes.

These discussions and decisions will be pivotal in ensuring that CHI continues to advocate effectively for cooperative housing and provide valuable resources and support to its members. The General Assembly will also offer an opportunity for members to engage with the leadership, ask questions, and provide input into the organization’s direction.

As CHI moves into another year of advancing cooperative housing initiatives, this gathering in New Delhi will be a key milestone in ensuring the organization’s continued success and alignment with cooperative values.

Three Anniversaries Celebrating Decades of Community Building

Celebrating a Decade of Advocacy: CoHabitat Network’s 10th Anniversary Meeting in Geneva
The CoHabitat Network, an international coalition dedicated to advancing resident-led housing solutions, is celebrating a major milestone—its 10th anniversary. Since its founding in 2014, the network has become a global force, empowering communities and advocating for participatory housing models that prioritize residents in decision-making processes.

To mark this momentous occasion, the network is hosting its annual meeting in Geneva, the birthplace of this movement. This year’s gathering will bring together over 30 civil society organizations, grassroots groups, federations, and academics from across the globe. The event will provide a unique opportunity to share insights, foster collaboration, and explore the future of cooperative and participatory housing.

The festivities will begin with a public lecture on October 1st at 6:30 PM CEST in Geneva. Featuring award-winning, community-led initiatives from Senegal, Indonesia, Catalonia, and Switzerland, this event will showcase how these inspiring projects are transforming urban communities worldwide. Find out more about the speakers here.

Can’t make it in person? You can still join the conversation online and learn how these initiatives are reshaping the landscape of affordable housing by watching the live stream.

50 Years of Cooperation in Toronto
This year marks a remarkable milestone for the Cooperative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) as it celebrates its 50th anniversary! Since its founding in 1974, CHFT has championed the cooperative housing model as a solution to Toronto’s housing challenges. Over the past five decades, the federation has empowered local communities by advocating for policy changes, providing education and support, and developing innovative programs that ensure cooperatives remain affordable and accessible.

One of CHFT’s most notable achievements is its leadership in promoting young cooperative leaders. The federation’s groundbreaking Diversity Scholarship Program, which started in 2004, has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to youth from coops committed to building inclusive communities. This program has become a model for cooperative federations across Canada, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating opportunities and fostering social change.

A recent success includes advocating for Toronto’s new Housing Now initiative, which allocates surplus city land for affordable housing, including cooperative developments. By ensuring that cooperative housing remains part of the city’s strategic plans, CHFT is paving the way for future projects that will expand the cooperative housing model throughout Toronto.
70 Years of Confcooperative Habitat in Italy
This year also marks the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of the Confcooperative Habitat federation in Italy.

“This is a unique opportunity to retrace our history, starting from the regeneration of our roots and to explore together what social role housing and community cooperation will be able to play in the future – contextualizes the president Alessandro Maggioni. Cooperation, particularly in our sectors, is the form of business that responds to the needs, aspirations, and desires of workers and citizens who live and transform the territory in which they operate. Our responsibility as cooperators must look to a long-term and intergenerational perspective, with a continuous and deep commitment and an active care for our members and our communities, in the awareness that our role also in the future is fundamental to the realization of the common good of society”.

At a regional level, Pune saw a significant move in 2024, with over 200 cooperative housing societies applying for conveyance deeds. This indicates a shift towards formal ownership structures and improved legal frameworks for cooperative housing members in the state. More details are available in this Hindustan Times article.

These initiatives reflect an ongoing effort to strengthen cooperative housing in India, aligning with broader governmental strategies to increase homeownership, rural development, and affordable housing opportunities across the country.

A new study examines the potential of housing cooperatives to address affordable housing challenges in Latin America, specifically focusing on Colombia and El Salvador. While many countries in the region have adopted neoliberal housing policies that prioritize financialized markets and often marginalize the poor, Uruguay stands out as an exception. Its Federation of Mutual Aid Housing Cooperatives(FUCVAM) has played a crucial role in promoting cooperative housing as a sustainable solution.

The research, conducted by Daniela Sanjinés Encinales, Jennifer Duyne Barenstein, and Natalia Quiñónez, explores the socioeconomic, political, and institutional factors that influence the success of housing cooperatives in Colombia and El Salvador. The findings highlight both opportunities and challenges for these cooperatives to penetrate traditionally neoliberal housing systems. Uruguay’s model serves as a benchmark for how cooperatives can contribute to affordable housing if supported by favorable policies and institutions.

The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and housing advocates interested in leveraging cooperatives to combat housing inequality across Latin America. Read the full article here.

Centre for Research on Architecture, society and the Built environment – etH Wohnforum, etH, Zurich, Switzerland. This paper is meant as a contribution to the Housing studies special issue: ‘Housing cooperatives and housing systems: lessons from history’

International Cooperative Alliance Global Conference – November 25-30, 2024

From November 25 to 30, 2024, India will host the Global Cooperative Conference, the largest gathering of cooperators from around the world. The conference is organized by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the voice of cooperatives worldwide. Conference hosts are the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) and the 18 ICA member organisations in India, who together represent close to 800,000 cooperatives and 290 million cooperators.

The conference will officially launch the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025 in the presence of global leaders, academics, and practitioners. The IYC takes the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World” to inspire cooperators worldwide to work together to strengthen the international cooperative movement.

In parallel, the ICA General Assembly will convene, where global members of the ICA will formally meet to approve financial statements and strategy according to the articles of association. This Global Conference aims to inspire global cooperation and promote cooperatives as people-centered, purpose-led institutions.

Visit ICA’s website for more information and to register.