Community housing cooperative

the problem:

We plan to create another housing cooperative focused on sustainability and social justice in Kalamazoo. We provide affordable, cooperative, and community-focused housing. Our organization will be committed to cooperation and democratic member control, advancing the cause of higher education, acting as a model for ecologically sustainable living, and community service and education that works toward social justice.

We came to this idea after seeing campus cooperatives around the country and learning that no alternative housing of this nature exists in Kalamazoo. We see a need for a stronger off-campus student community in Kalamazoo that is involved in the city rather than isolated from it. We also recognize the increasing costs of living in Kalamazoo and the need for affordable, reliable housing. Many students subsist on low incomes and routinely deal with irresponsible landlords, two factors that we want to address with our project.

Community outreach programs will be developed to educate people on sustainable living and cooperation. These programs may take the form of workshops, classes, discussion groups, publications, and tours of the house. We hope to serve as an example of sustainable living for those around us.

Our organization owns one house but we are working to expand to a second.

vital stats:

people impacted:

people involved: