If you or a loved one needs to flee a location that has become unsafe, you’re faced with both the logistics of finding affordable housing in a new place, and the loss of community that comes from uprooting your life to seek safety. Co-operative housing is one option that can address both problems:

• Greater affordability compared to, for example, buying standard family homes or renting apartments.
• Social continuity: communities can move and live together, supporting one another in the new environment. They can also strengthen by adding new members.
• Currently, there are areas in blue states with aging housing stock (sometimes even group housing, like old boarding houses) that is relatively affordable. It may need renovation that can be provided partly through unskilled “sweat equity” by residents.

You may be able to join an existing intentional community

The Foundation for Intentional Communities is an online listing of intentional communities around the world. Search their directory; you may find one in a safe location that you can join.

You could consider setting up cooperative housing with friends

Starting a co-op from scratch involves a lot of steps, but for a committed, intentional community that can pull together some resources for start-up, it might be a viable option.

Typical steps for setting up a co-op include:

• Figuring out where you want to go and what kind of housing you want there.
• Finding people to join you.
• Sketching out the steps your group will have to take and the information you need to gather (budget, prices, size, how many units, bathrooms, shared kitchen or shared meals? And so on).
• Establishing your governance structure, bylaws/community agreements, and general principles for members.
• Forming a legal entity (LLC is common for co-ops; some states have special incorporation status for co-ops). It’s recommended that you have an attorney familiar with co-ops review the articles of incorporation before formation (and your bylaws too, if they are ready at the same time).
• If funding is short, you might be able to form a foundation to fundraise from individuals and other organizations.
• Acquiring a property (buy or lease? A friendly seller might agree to a lease-to-own agreement using a land contract).
• Renovating/make-ready/moving in.

Resources

The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO)’s Start a Co-op page provides a step-by-step guide with links to relevant information in each state. NASCO staff can provide assistance. They “prioritize assistance to community-oriented cooperatives with a focus on anti-gentrification and that provide assistance to historically marginalized groups.”

Based in New York City, the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) started out in the 70’s helping tenants acquire condemned buildings neglected by their landlords. They now provide co-op development training and management services.

Cooperation Works! Is a national network of co-op developers. Their members provide everything from board trainings to business planning for new and growing co-ops. Use their search tool to find a developer near you who can provide technical assistance to your co-op:

We can create intentional, supportive communities, in safer locations, to protect ourselves and our loved ones. There is a lot of knowledge and support out there for people who need to do this!