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Coop Voisins Affordable, Community-Based Housing in Ottawa |
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WHY CHOOSE A HOUSING COOPERATIVE?
What is a Housing Cooperative? Read this brochure (prepared in 10 languages) by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada:
| English | Ojibway |
| French | Spanish |
| Arabic | Polish |
| Somali | Vietnamese |
| Chinese | Tagalog |
Cooperative housing is affordable because coops are run on a non-profit basis, and members set the rent with their own interest in mind.
Members are involved in all aspects of managing the building, and so participation is essential. Housing coops were created to be cooperative, community based organizations which provide people with affordable housing.
Coops make decisions democratically, and so you have a say in the management of your cooperative. Participation in the cooperative thus offers extensive educational and social opportunities to our members. The coop provides a friendly place to live for established Ottawa residents and newcomers alike.
The Coop is a member of CHASEO (Cooperative Housing Association of Eastern Ontario) and CHFC (Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada). CHASEO also provides an explanation of cooperative housing. The Coop follows these international co-operative principles:
- Open and Voluntary Membership
- Member's Economic Participation
- Autonomy and Independence
- Cooperation Among Cooperatives
- Democratic Control by Members
- Committment to Service
- Education, Training and Information
- Concern for Community and Future Generations
Members can also get good deals on insurance (apartment contents and auto) through MemberGuard with the Co-operators.
Caisses Populaires and Credit unions also offer banking incentives for members of the Cooperative Housing Association of Eastern Ontario, a member organization of CHFC.
In Sandy Hill alone there are four housing cooperatives, all of which belong to the CHFC:
| Coop Voisins | 613-565-0284 |
| Conservation Coop | 613-567-7281 |
| Sandy Hill Coop | 613-234-4554 |
| St. Georges Coop | 613-565-0105 |
Download our rental application (in PDF format). To return the completed application, see our contact information.
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“We chose cooperative housing after renting from landlords whose main interest was their own profit, not maintaining a good place to live. Especially in times of low vacancy, landlords can charge rents as high as they wish, and are less motivated to provide repairs or respond to complaints. In contrast, coops are non-profit, which means repairs are handled promptly, housing charges are reasonable, and we as members make important decisions together about how the coop is run. I love knowing and having fun with my neighbours, and feeling that I am part of a community, not just a building.” D., member since 2003 |