About us
Our purpose - three things:
- We want to change the conversation and make the places we live in better.
- We want to organise the community to bring that closer to reality.
- We want to become a resource "hub" for people interested in making co-housing a reality.
The benefits of co-housing
There are lots of potential benefits of co-housing. Some include: \
- older people (women, in particular) who might otherwise live alone can have the win-win of privacy and autonomy as well as community \
- sharing resources: in some co-housing models, residents share resources including in a shared kitchen, garden, and a common living room. This could be extended to include a workshop, a co-operative run shop, or many other possibilities. \
- we would live in a genuine community.
First steps
- Share this page, get people joined up.
- Become an informed group - share your knowledge
Read some of the resources listed below (see Before your first meeting).
We recognise there are a range of views of what exactly co-housing is. There's questions about inclusionary housing rates (e.g. 30%) for lower income households, people with a disability or older residents living alone. There are questions about building types - do we build something new or renovate something existing. How would we fund that (private, public, community, a mix)? - Let's get together.
Before your first meeting
Do some research about co-housing. We recommend these two resources:
- UTS Collaborative Living website \
https://www.collaborativehousing.org.au/
2. Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant's book Creating Cohousing: Building Sustainable Communities https://g.co/kgs/WDLh5Q
Where are we based?
We are Sydney based and would realistically focus our efforts there. We think City of Sydney and Inner West Councils may be the most receptive ... but if you know better, then let us know.
Who are we?
This MeetUp group site has been set up by two concerned citizens (Kiki and David). We are a male and female housemate in a share house, both a little older, who see the benefits of living in community and believe co-housing solves a number of social, housing, transport, and community problems in one go.
Skills and knowledge
Obviously, we don't know it all. We will need to draw on people with a range of skills at different points. These skills include housing policy, property law, architecture and design of properties and neighbourhoods, property development and town planning as well as community development, capital raising, financing, and more. But there are experts out there.
Our group's main focus is informing and organising a community of people who are interested in making co-housing a reality.
Upcoming events
1
Intro to Housing Co-ops
Booler Community Centre, 25-27 Lambert St, Camperdown, NS, AUAustralia is in a housing crisis. We are under-investing in public housing and the private market only gets less and less affordable. Housing co-ops are the answer!
Co-ops are collaborative housing where you can "rent like you own". They are not-for-profits governed collectively by their residents. Co-ops have been shown to perform higher in sustainability, community resilience and wellbeing due to resident participation in governance and community life.
In this talk, we'll explain the co-op model, why it's good for Australia, what we can learn from overseas examples, and how we can start building co-ops here in Sydney.
Some of the topics we'll cover:- How is a limited-equity housing co-op different from renting? How is it different from owning property?
- How do housing co-ops provide affordable housing, and how do they help the whole housing system work better?
- What makes this different from Australia's existing social housing co-ops? How do co-ops relate to cohousing and community land trusts?
- Where do co-ops fit in with other responses to the housing crisis like public housing and increasing supply?
- What is Sydney Cohousing doing to make co-op housing happen right here in the city?
There will be time for Q&A after the talk, so bring your questions! We will also provide snacks and time to chat over tea or coffee.
Please register to attend via Humanitix.
Can't make it in person? Join us for an online followup event the following Tuesday evening.
Sydney Cohousing is a community group for locals who want to live more collaboratively, sustainably and affordably together in the city. Find out more and join us at https://sydneycohousing.au/join-us
Image: residents meeting at Murundaka Cohousing Cooperative.
We may photograph attendees at this event, but you will always be able to opt out of having your photo used in any way.1 attendee
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