Community Finance and Savings Systems: Innovative Tools for Urban Housing Solutions
Published in the Spring 2025 issue of Housing Finance International, this article explores how community-led finance tools—like savings groups and cooperatives—empower urban poor communities to improve housing conditions through accessible, inclusive systems.
The Collective Housing Landscape in Indonesia
Indonesia’s urban poor are pioneering collective housing solutions to counter displacement and housing insecurity. In February 2024, the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), explored how the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) is scaling up cooperative housing networks nationwide.
Housing Europe Report Highlights the Role of Cooperatives in Addressing the Housing Crisis – March 2025
Housing Europe’s report explores how housing cooperatives continue to provide affordable, democratic housing while adapting to new social, economic, and environmental challenges. It examines the resilience of well-established cooperatives and the emergence of new models since the 2008 financial crisis. With insights from 12 European countries, the report highlights innovative solutions and policy recommendations to support cooperative housing in an increasingly difficult market.
What Australia Can Learn from European Affordable Co-operative Rental Housing Models
Discover insights from BCCM’s 2024 European Study Tour Report, highlighting innovative cooperative housing models in Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. Learn about public policies, financing strategies, and sustainable practices shaping the future of affordable housing.
Report on Transforming Management of Large Housing-led Sites in England and Europe
New Report: Rethinking Housing Development Through Community-Led Place Stewardship
Developed with the Community Land Trust Network (England & Wales) and Dark Matter Labs, this research explores community-led place stewardship as a transformative alternative to private management companies in large housing developments.
Key insights:
87% of large UK housing developments rely on private management companies, often criticized for poor value and accountability.
Community-led stewardship via community land trusts offers a proven, not-for-profit alternative that reduces opposition to large-scale house building.
Includes 5 UK case studies, practical scenarios for councils and developers, and lessons from Europe.
Confederation of Co-operative Housing Celebrates 30 Years of Advocacy and Progress in the UK
The anniversary publication, The Confederation of Co-operative Housing: 30 Years of Hope, Inspiration and Belief, reflects on CCH’s journey from its inception in the early 1990s in response to shifting government policies. The report highlights CCH’s resilience and evolution, adapting to both support its members and advocate for cooperative housing models as a credible alternative to traditional housing frameworks.
New Housing Program Launches to Support Affordable, Resilient Housing for Global Communities
Swedish organizations and CHI members, We Effect, HSB, and Riksbyggen are joining forces to launch an international housing program focused on expanding access to adequate housing for people facing poverty. By leveraging Sweden’s cooperative housing expertise, this collaboration aims to support low-income communities worldwide in organizing, building skills, and securing financing for housing initiatives.
International measures to channel investment towards affordable rental housing: Austrian case study
This Western Australian Government report reviews Austria’s financing model for affordable housing, focusing on limited-profit housing associations and Housing Construction Convertible Bonds (HCCBs). Austria’s model leverages low-interest loans, subsidies, and private investment to keep housing costs down. The report recommends Australia explore similar strategies to enhance affordable housing through stable subsidies, support for low-income access, and competitive land development.
Housing Co-operative 2.0: how could a co-operative housing model work in the modern Irish housing landscape?
This award-winning essay explores the historical context of the housing cooperative model in Ireland and examines how this model is currently being implemented in various countries around the world. By analyzing Ireland’s past and contemporary international housing cooperative projects, the author offers recommendations for the model’s future development in Ireland.