There are many kinds of co‑operatives, including food co‑ops, day cares, credit unions, retail co‑ops, worker co‑ops, and housing co‑ops. Any group of people can form a co‑operative to meet a shared need. In a co‑op, the members collectively own the organization, and the co‑op exists to provide a service for its members. In a housing co‑operative, that service is housing.
Housing co‑operatives have been part of Canadian communities since the 1930s. In a housing co‑op, the people who live in the homes are also the members of the co‑operative.Over the years, federal and provincial governments have supported the development of non‑profit housing co‑operatives across Canada. These programs have helped create well‑managed, good‑quality, and affordable housing. In British Columbia alone, there are more than 255 non‑profit housing co‑operatives, providing over 14,300 homes.
As a co‑op member, you have security of tenure, meaning you can remain in your home as long as you follow the co‑op’s rules and pay your housing charges. Members also have a direct voice in decisions that affect their homes and community. Housing co‑ops are made up of people from diverse backgrounds, incomes, and life experiences. This diversity, along with shared responsibility and mutual support, is one of the greatest strengths of the co‑operative housing movement.
As a member of a housing co‑operative, you have important rights that support fairness, transparency, and democratic participation. These include the right to: