“If, like us, you’re currently steeped in long days of homebound self-isolation, take a look around your dwelling and observe a moment of gratitude. The more topsy-turvy the world outside becomes, the more we can see the importance of a stable place to live, and that housing and health are often the same thing.”
- Reasons to be Cheerful article ‘Why Hospitals are Building Housing’.

Around the world, co-ops are playing a significant role in providing housing solutions, and in the process building empowered, sustainable and healthy communities. Up to 40% of housing in some cities around the world is in coops. Whether you’re talking financial, social, environmental, cultural or health outcomes, the benefits across the whole of society can be enormous. 

So what are housing cooperatives? What are the main benefits and challenges? Why are they so successful in some parts of the world? And what’s needed to do more of them elsewhere? 

To talk about all this, I hosted a panel brought together from around Australia by Eugenie Stockmann. Eugenie is an award-winning developer, sustainability consultant, affiliate of an international network of cohousing professionals, and now CEO of Co-operation Housing. Joining her on the panel are:

• Dr Jasmine Palmer: researcher of collaborative housing and sustainable design, and a member of Urban Coup Cohousing
• Anthony Taylor: Policy Offer at the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals - the peak body and voice for Co-ops and Mutuals in Australia
• Michelle Mackenzie: CEO of Shelter WA - an independent peak body that advocates for social and affordable housing and ending homelessness
• Peter Shooter: Resident First Fremantle Housing Collective and Chair of Co-operation Housing
• With an impromptu appearance from Danielle Pender, Manager of the Community Housing Strategy at the State Department of Communities.

It’s telling that here in Western Australia alone there are 9,000 homeless people and more than 14,000 on the social housing wait list. At the same time, so much of our housing is under-utilised and misdirected. For example, 82% of housing consists of 3 to 5 bedrooms, but 58% of WA homes house just 1 or 2 people.

So how much housing do we need? How do we direct that need most effectively? And where will the investment for this come from?

The event also launched a series of 5 short videos on housing co-operatives. (Prominent WA producer of these videos, and Co-operation Housing board member, Sohan Ariel Hayes credits being a coop housing resident with enabling his successful artistic life.)

This episode is produced with thanks to Co-operation Housing. The event took place at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.

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