International conference on housing cooperatives: an event you won’t want to miss!

Housing cooperatives around the world impact the lives of millions. Although political, economic and social realities differ from area to area, all housing cooperatives share the same objectives: to offer decent, secure and affordable housing and a stimulating living environment that encourages citizen involvement.

This conference, focusing on the successes and challenges of housing cooperatives around the world, will:

• • trace the history of housing cooperatives in Europe, where the movement began
• • examine the various cooperative development, financing and business models
• • report on outstanding achievements
• • share the challenges facing housing cooperatives by providing concrete examples of cooperative organizations around the world

Nathalie Verret, who is in charge of communications for the Confédération québécoise des coopératives d’habitation (CQCH), was happy to answer our questions:

How many participants are you expecting?

Between 150 and 175.

What is the goal of the conference?

The CQCH wants to bring together people from various sectors related to cooperative housing – university researchers, political decision-makers, real estate managers and developers, real estate law and finance specialists, etc. ─ to show them the power of the housing cooperative formula and how it can be adapted to different clients and different needs.

The CQCH also wants to stimulate discussion and debate on legal, financial, real estate, association-related and other issues.

Who will be speaking at the conference?

Sylvie Moreau and Nicholas Gazzard, housing committee representatives with the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA).

What themes will be covered?

This private conference will focus on the various types of housing cooperatives observed in 22 different countries based on a study carried out by the ICA.