Coop Conversations

Cooperative Housing International
Coop Conversations

This podcast is about cooperative housing living and is presented by Co-operative Housing International, the global apex organization that unites cooperative housing. We have engaging conversations with people who live and/or work in cooperative housing, covering topics ranging from a group of friends living in a coop in harmony with its surrounding environment on a remote Japanese island to the implications of developing a coop on leased land in Canada and the UK. Since the cooperative housing model is so flexible, it can be adapted to accommodate many different needs and circumstances. Through these conversations, we aim to explore the unique benefits and challenges of this community-led form of housing. Sit back and enjoy!

  1. 1 HR. AGO

    Rosanna Zaccaria, Legacoop Abitanti

    In this episode of Coop Conversations, we sit down with Rosanna Zaccaria, the president of Legacoop Abitanti, to explore the transformative power of cooperative housing in Italy. As the first Italian guest on our podcast, Rosanna draws upon her nine years of experience leading the association, shedding light on the historical and current landscape of housing cooperatives. Rosanna shares the vital role that Legacoop Abitanti plays in advocating for public policies and innovative housing solutions, touching upon the significance of community building and social inclusion. Discover how Italian cooperatives like Uniabita and Risanamento are spearheading initiatives to offer affordable housing while fostering a strong sense of community among residents. We delve into the evolution of Italy's cooperative movement over the past 130 years, highlighting key projects that exemplify the integration of energy sustainability and social services. Learn about the challenges and opportunities that come with managing housing cooperatives, and gain insight into groundbreaking projects aimed at supporting vulnerable populations such as seniors and young families. Join us as we explore the strategic advocacy efforts helmed by Legacoop Abitanti, including collaborations with the European Investment Bank to scale up cooperative initiatives. This episode offers a compelling view of how cooperative housing stands as a beacon of hope and innovation, addressing the urgent housing crisis in Italy while championing an ethical model for living and collaboration.

    1h 3m

  2. 05/06/2024

    Alicia Maneiro - Cooperative Housing in Uruguay

    Alicia Maneiro, President of La Confederación Uruguaya de Entidades Cooperativas (CUDECOOP) discusses the cooperative housing model in Uruguay and its unique features that have influenced the cooperative housing landscape in Latin America and Europe. The episode delves into the concepts of building communities and not just houses, self-help, self-management, and hereditary rights within cooperatives. It also pays tribute to the principles of mutual aid and previous savings modalities in cooperative housing, with particular focus on self-management and direct democracy. We further explore the broader applications of education initiatives in cooperative housing and strategies for making land available for these projects. Policies and government actions that have influenced the progress, recognition, and sometimes slowdown of housing cooperatives are also discussed. Finally, Alicia highlights The Uruguayan Federation of Cooperatives for Mutual Aid’s (FUCVAM) efforts to promote the cooperative model abroad, its dedication to sustaining its impact model without foreign aid, and its recent land acquisition ventures.

    1h 7m

  3. 11/16/2023

    Paul Bradley (ROC USA) and Kristi Peterman (Liberty Landing Cooperative)

    In this episode, we interview Paul Bradley, former CEO of ROC USA, and Kristi Peterman, a resident and board member of Liberty Landing Cooperative. ROC USA is a non-profit social venture that aims to facilitate resident ownership of manufactured home parks on a larger scale. Liberty Landing is a resident-owned manufactured home park located in Liberty, Missouri - a suburb of Kansas City. During the episode, Paul and Kristi discuss the process of residents uniting to purchase the land on which their homes are situated, thereby protecting affordability for future generations.

    1h 11m

  4. 09/06/2023

    Leasehold Coops

    Meet Thom Armstrong, the CEO of the Co-operative Housing Federation of British Columbia in Canada. He has over 30 years of experience in the cooperative housing movement and serves as the CEO for COHO Management Services Society and the Community Land Trust group of societies. Furthermore, he serves as the chair of the board of Encasa Financial Inc., which oversees an investment fund of more than $500 million in assets for the social housing sector in Canada. Blase Lambert is with us as well, serving as Treasurer on the Board of Cooperative Housing International. He holds the position of CEO at the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, which is the UK's representative organization for cooperative housing. Furthermore, he sits on the Board of the Co-operative Housing Finance Society and is a founding member of Community Led Homes. Lastly, he serves as Treasurer of Leicester Vaughan College. Blase and Thom delve into the advantages and disadvantages of housing cooperatives on leased land in this episode. They explore the challenges faced by coops striving to preserve their community against the demand of cities to accommodate more residents on the same land. Additionally, they discuss the community land trust model, which serves as a catalyst for housing development and enables collaboration with local governments to lease land for extended periods and construct much needed affordable homes.

    1h 1m

  5. 04/25/2023

    Sumu Yakushima Housing Cooperative -- Japan

    In this episode, we’re joined by Tsukasa Ono and Marina Takahasi who live in a housing cooperative in Japan on an island called Yakushima. The coop is called Sumu Yakushima and was conceived and designed by Tsukasa, an architect. Eight members collectively own the coop via a joint-stock company, each having an equal share. The design combines modern and traditional Japanese architecture and civil engineering practices where the built environment is in harmony with the natural environment.

  6. 03/17/2023

    Multipro - Nicaragua

    En este podcast presentamos a MULTIPRO, una cooperativa de servicios profesionales con sede en Matagalpa, fundada en 2013 por un grupo de jóvenes profesionales como ingenieros, administradores, desarrolladores sociales), que trabajan en coordinación con CECOVI, la organización paraguas de las cooperativas de vivienda del departamento de Matagalpa.

    51 min

  7. 04/27/2022

    Maxime Zaït, Communa, Belgique

    (This episode is in French) À Bruxelles, il y a plus de 6 millions de mètres-carrés vides, et entre-temps des milliers de personnes sont à la recherche d’espaces décents et abordables pour se loger ou mettre en place des initiatives. Maxime Zaït est avocat, recherchiste et co-fondateur de Communa, STUN Europe et Fairground Brussels, des organisations sans but lucratif qui s'intéressent à la création de communautés et à la lutte contre la vacance immobilière afin de créer des lieux temporaires, pour transformer la ville à long terme. Maxime s'est promené pendant plusieurs mois dans huit pays en Europe afin d'étudier le droit à la ville, le droit au logement, les modèles anti-spéculatifs, la mise en commun et l'usage social temporaire. Dans cette conversation Maxime partage avec nous les différentes approches qu'il a vues et les problèmes similaires qui existent à Bruxelles et dans les endroits qu'il a visités.   Communa Website: https://communa.be/

    1h 9m

  8. 03/09/2022

    Ander Zabala Gomez, Sostre Civic, Catalonia, Spain

    Sostre Civic is a cooperative in Catalonia, Spain that promotes and develops housing cooperatives under the right of use model. This housing model consists of collective ownership of a building or a number of buildings by the housing co-op. Members of the co-op have the right to occupy a particular apartment by mutual agreement but do not hold exclusive ownership. Sostre Civic also makes use of a pre-emption right mechanism that exists in Catalonia whereby civil society has the first option to buy abandoned properties.

    59 min
See All (18)

About

This podcast is about cooperative housing living and is presented by Co-operative Housing International, the global apex organization that unites cooperative housing. We have engaging conversations with people who live and/or work in cooperative housing, covering topics ranging from a group of friends living in a coop in harmony with its surrounding environment on a remote Japanese island to the implications of developing a coop on leased land in Canada and the UK. Since the cooperative housing model is so flexible, it can be adapted to accommodate many different needs and circumstances. Through these conversations, we aim to explore the unique benefits and challenges of this community-led form of housing. Sit back and enjoy!

Information

  • Creator
    Cooperative Housing International
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Coop Conversations

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