On 25 February 2025, the ICA-AP Committee on Cooperative Research (ICCR) organized the 12^th Coop Colloquium in collaboration with Cooperative Housing International (CHI) and Development Alternatives (DA). It focused on Affordable and Sustainable Housing and brought together experts, policymakers, researchers, and cooperative leaders from around the world to explore how cooperative housing can be a sustainable and practical solution to the global housing crisis. It served as a platform for sharing best practices, innovative models, and policy recommendations for housing cooperatives.

The session began with a video message from Ms. Julie LaPalme, Secretary General, CHI. She highlighted the critical role of cooperative housing in addressing the global housing crisis and emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration among cooperative housing organizations worldwide.

Dr. Sidsel Grimstad, Vice-Chairperson of ICCR, welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the discussion. She spoke about the increasing challenges of affordable housing, particularly in urban areas, and how cooperative models provide sustainable, community-driven solutions that integrate economic, social, and environmental aspects. Dr. Grimstad reinforced that cooperative housing is more than just providing homes; it’s about fostering inclusive, self-sustaining communities where members collectively manage and maintain their housing, ensuring long-term affordability and resilience against housing market fluctuations.

The colloquium featured four prominent speakers who shared their perspectives, research findings, and practices on cooperative housing systems from different regional and sectoral viewpoints.

Mr. Donald Proctor, an experienced architect and housing consultant from Australia, spoke about the student cooperative housing model as a means to provide affordable accommodation for university students. He presented the case of STUCCO, a student housing cooperative in Sydney, which has successfully provided low-cost housing to students while fostering a strong sense of community ownership and self-governance for students of the University of Sydney. He explained the operational structure of student housing cooperatives, where students manage the facilities, take collective responsibility for maintenance, and make decisions democratically. The benefits of such a model include lower rent, stable accommodation, and enhanced social support networks running successfully as a wonder for over three decades. However, he also noted challenges such as securing initial funding, legal recognition, and administrative sustainability given the transient nature of student populations.

Dr. Waleed Alzamil, an Associate Professor at King Saud University and an experienced Urban Planner, presented his research on sustainable policy frameworks for the transition toward cooperative housing in Saudi Arabia based upon his findings of research in different countries such as India, Indonesia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that while cooperative housing remains a relatively underdeveloped model in the region, there is a growing need for its implementation to address the rising cost of urban housing. He outlined key challenges such as the lack of government incentives, rigid regulatory frameworks, and limited public awareness about cooperative housing as a viable option. He proposed a sustainable policy framework integrating economic, social, and environmental factors. His recommendations included reforming urban legislation to encourage cooperative housing, allocating land specifically for cooperative housing developments, and strengthening international collaborations to adopt best practices from countries with successful cooperative housing models.

Sustainability specialist Mr. Mohak Gupta, Assistant Program Director, DA, provided insights into the intersection of sustainable construction and housing as community-oriented solutions with community ownership in the form of SHGs and cooperatives. He discussed the role of worker cooperatives in the construction sector and how they can contribute to developing environmentally responsible and affordable housing. Mr. Gupta shared case studies of successful housing projects that integrate local materials, energy-efficient designs, and participatory construction methods. He also emphasized the need for government policy support in scaling such models, including incentives for green building practices and financial mechanisms that support cooperative housing developments. He highlighted the role of cooperative worker guilds in addressing the twin challenges of employment and affordable housing by training local artisans and construction workers to develop sustainable housing solutions, thus creating self-sufficient communities.

Dr. Scott Jennings, a board member from CHI, provided a global perspective on cooperative housing models, highlighting examples from Europe and North America. In some countries, cooperative housing accounts for up to 20% of the housing stock, playing a significant role in the housing market. Dr. Jennings emphasized that cooperative housing is not just about affordability but also ensures security of tenure and democratic control. He highlighted successful policy interventions in Zurich and Vienna, where cooperative housing has thrived due to favourable land policies, long-term municipal partnerships, and access to cooperative financing models. Advocating for stronger knowledge-sharing networks, Dr. Jennings stressed the importance of global collaboration among cooperative housing organizations to exchange best practices and innovative financial models. He also shared his experiences with student housing cooperatives in the United Kingdom and provided insights into the current ecosystem of student housing cooperatives across the globe.

Several common themes emerged from the discussions, providing key takeaways for policymakers, cooperative leaders, and researchers:

1.   The Need for Policy and Regulatory Support: One of the primary challenges in expanding cooperative housing is the lack of supportive policies in many countries. Speakers emphasized the need for reforms in land allocation, taxation policies, and financing mechanisms to facilitate cooperative housing development.

2.  Sustainability in Housing Cooperatives: Integrating sustainable building practices into cooperative housing developments can address environmental concerns while ensuring long-term affordability. Examples from India and Australia demonstrated how cooperatives can incorporate renewable energy, efficient land use, and eco-friendly construction materials.

3. Student Cooperative Housing as a Model: The success of student housing cooperatives in Australia and Europe showcased how cooperatives can effectively address housing affordability issues while fostering community engagement and shared governance.

4.   The Role of International Collaboration: There is a growing need for cooperative housing organizations to collaborate at the international level to share experiences, knowledge, and best practices. Learning from successful models in different regions can help address challenges and improve the implementation of cooperative housing projects globally.

5.  Community Participation and Democratic Governance: Cooperative housing is unique as it promotes community-driven development, where residents collectively own and manage their housing units. This participatory approach enhances social cohesion and ensures that housing remains affordable in the long term.

The colloquium concluded with a call to action for cooperative stakeholders to actively engage in policy advocacy, capacity building, and international networking to advance cooperative housing as a sustainable solution to the global housing crisis with more extensive and intensive research in cooperative housing systems. The discussions highlighted that while challenges exist, cooperative housing offers a resilient and inclusive alternative to conventional housing markets.

Participants expressed interest in continued discussions and knowledge exchange, with some suggesting regional forums dedicated to cooperative housing. There was also a proposal to organize a dedicated symposium on housing cooperatives within the Asia-Pacific region to further explore region-specific challenges and solutions.

In light of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, this colloquium reinforced the significance of cooperative housing in building sustainable communities and addressing pressing housing concerns worldwide. The ICCR reaffirmed its commitment to supporting research and dialogue in this area, ensuring that cooperative housing continues to be recognized as a vital component of sustainable urban development.