Rethinking Cohousing: Lessons from International Examples of Inclusive and Affordable Housing

This report published by World Habitat and the Churchill Fellowship is the culmination of Ella Hancock’s travelling fellowship to explore lessons about inclusive and affordable housing internationally through the lens of cohousing.

Set out in 4 main chapters and drawing on helpful case studies and country profiles, the report focusses on cohousing

• From a historical perspective
• for people experiencing homelessness [citing Rupali Court, a recent Housing LIN case study]
• for refugees,  asylum and migration integration [referencing cohousing in Barcelona], and
• from niche to mainstream: Scaling Cohousing Through Social Landlords, Mixed Tenure and Public Housing Systems [putting the spotlight on New Ground]

The report shows that cohousing can support housing stability, wellbeing and social connection. Drawing on the lessons learned, it makes a number of recommendations under the following headings

• recognise cohousing as a valid housing option
• enable social landlords to deliver cohousing and hybrid models
• use public land strategically to enable affordable cohousing
• reform funding and finance to support shared and collective housing
• support participation in practical ways
• encourage mixed-tenure communities
• embed cohousing within broader systems of support, and
• invest in learning, evaluation, and replication

And finally,  the report states;

‘Cohousing should not be seen as a replacement for social housing, Housing First or supported accommodation. Instead, it should be understood as complementary, one that strengthens the social foundations of housing and expands the range of options available to people who are too often offered the least choice.’