While there are thousands of people in living in housing co-operatives across Australia, there’s not a lot of understanding about the model and why so many are attracted to it.

Shelter NSW representatives on the City of Sydney’s Housing for All Working Group, were pleased to liaise with Common Equity, the Co-operative Housing Peak, to coordinate a site visit to two of Inner Sydney’s most enduring co-ops: Emoh Ruo and Alpha House. These two housing co-operatives have a strong focus on membership linked with creative arts communities and practice.

The visits included committee members, elected representatives and Council staff. The purpose of the visit was to help advisory group representatives see how housing co-operatives operate. It certainly provided some important insights into a strong volunteer-based affordable rental housing model that has delivered long term sustainable outcomes.

_{Left – Shared Community Space, Alpha House
Right – Community meeting room – Emoh Ruo resident and Shelter NSW Principal Policy Officer, Stacey Miers}

To learn more about Common Equity, a registered provider and developer of community housing (with approximately 500 dwellings across NSW), and its work as a peak body visit the Common Equity website.