Cooperative Homeownership: The Power of Residents in Control
Cooperative Homeownership: The Power of Residents in Control
Explore a practical approach to housing that puts residents at the center of ownership and decision making. This two-part webinar will introduce the cooperative housing model and how it can support long term affordability, stability, and community-led development.
Led by Peter Dean, Director of UHAB National (Urban Homesteading Assistance Board), this session draws on decades of experience supporting tenant and co-op communities. UHAB’s work highlights how organized residents can build and sustain housing solutions that advance social and economic outcomes through cooperation. UHAB was founded during the self-help housing movement, and witnessed the power of self-reliance in organized residents. UHAB helps build power in tenant and co-op communities so they can continue to advance racial, social, economic, and environmental justice through cooperation.
Peter Dean leads National Co-op Community Services, the national division of UHAB, in New York City. UHAB has empowered New York City tenants to create over 1,300 limited equity housing cooperatives totaling over 30,000 homes during the past 50 years. NCCS is offering incubators around the country to share the lessons UHAB has learned so others can build permanently affordable housing cooperatives throughout the US. Peter has developed and managed permanently affordable housing co-ops, grocery, and cable television co-ops as well as non-profit and for-profit affordable housing. He lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC and has an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Co-moderated by Zayne Sinclair, Social Innovator at Innavise, the discussion will also connect global insights to local opportunities and considerations.
What you will learn:
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– A introduction to cooperative housing, grounding the audience in what the model is and how it functions in practice
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– An overview of the New York City context and the role of organizations like UHAB as an intermediary supporting cooperative housing development
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– The development pathway, including how buildings transition into cooperative ownership and the role of technical assistance throughout that process
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– Governance structures and what it means to be resident-led, including decision-making, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations
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– Financing and affordability mechanisms, with a focus on how co-ops remain sustainable and permanently affordable over time
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– Practical insights and lessons learned from UHAB’s experience working within a complex housing ecosystem
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– Reflections on how these models could translate to Bermuda, including key considerations and constraints
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– Opportunities to incorporate light interactive elements throughout the sessions to keep the audience engaged and allow for questions and discussion
Session Details:
Part I: Monday, April 27 | 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Part II: Thursday, April 30 | 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Oxribs8QSaO2J5RIxblj1Q
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
This webinar is designed for anyone interested in alternative housing solutions, including community leaders, policymakers, and residents exploring new pathways to ownership.
