Housing Co-ops

co-ops International Co-op principles are guidelines, through which co-ops put their values into practice.			Deptford goes wireless Deptford residents are amongst the first in Britain to use a Community Wireless Network. Video Interview (wmv, 3 min) James Stevens (Boundless Co-op) Broadb. (6 MB)(recommended) 56k (1 MB)			J. Stevens (Boundless)
about housing co-ops Housing in the local area of South East London can be an expensive and nerve-racking experience. Small rooms in a state of repair, horrendous rents, anonymus neighbourhoods, nasty landlords and speculating agencies are by far no exception. Inmidst this "money-for-value" culture most housing Co-ops can make a real difference. Housing Co-ops manage their affairs in a self-determined and self-responsible manner and do not have a landlord. Their rent levels are significantly lower. They are non-profit organisations. Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility , democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.				Conference: Progressing the social economy in Deptford
				In the last years organiser James McDonald (former chair of Sanford) had organised 2 Alternative Housing conferences. Report includes compact collection of further links about co-ops) more
	picture left: Sanford Housing Co-op London SE 14 general info & application procedure
Sanford William Shakespeare		A Midsummer Nights Dream			Sanford Party 2004 slideshow
Dress rehearsal		29.7.05 open air live Sanford Housing Co-op press review
If you consider to live in a co-op (or want to learn more abot co-op) you can read the co-operative principles. These are international guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice. A good general website is Radical Routes. If you want to set up a housing co-op visit Upstart. All co-ops are different and so vary their application procedures. To give you an idea how an application procedure could look like check out Sanford's application procedure. A good example for a smaller local Co-op is Rokeby Community Housing Co-op.
Links: Radical Routes: network of radical co-ops: information, contacts, publications and other suppor: www.radicalroutes.org.uk Rootstock: info & financial support for member co-operatives since 1991:www.rootstock.org.uk Upstart: provides information about setting up Housing Co-operatives: www.upstart.coop Catalyst Collective: Support for setting up and registering new Co-ops: www.eco-action.org/catalyst Confederation of Co-operative Housing (CCH): UK wide organisation for (but not only) housing co-operatives http://cch.coop Sanford Housing Co-op: New Cross: info & application procedure: www.sanford.i12.com Rokeby Community Housing Co-op: Brockley; info & application procedure: www.rokebycoop.org Alternative Housing Conference 2004: 11 September 2004 in Clays Lane: www.althousing.net/ahc04 Advisory Service for Squatters (ASS): loads of info and advice about squatting: www.squat.freeserve.co.uk Empty Homes: Loads of info about empty properties: http://www.emptyhomes.com