Cooperative Housing Help Desk: we are making progress in promoting alternative housing models

A few months ago, Coòpolis launched the Cooperative Housing Help Deskwhich was born as a pioneering initiative in Barcelona by advise and accompany citizens interested in this model of access to housing. This service, located in the Bloc4BCN, is aimed both at individuals who want to join existing projects as in groups that want to promote their own initiatives.

To make the service more widely known, this week we are launching one new campaign with audiovisual material to spread the characteristics of the model and explain the Point of Attention.

A personalized attention service

The new Coòpolis Service Point wants to be one key tool to resolve common doubts about the cooperative model and their opportunities. Among the most frequent questions addressed by the service are aspects such as access to financing, available services, legal frameworks, and public support tools to develop projects. In addition, the point also offers spaces for connect interested people with already existing initiatives or help to create new groups that can consolidate communities. Sessions can be held in person at Bloc4BCN or by phone, with prior appointment, and they can apply through this form.

This service is part of the city’s commitment to fairer and more sustainable housing models. Coòpolis thus reinforces its objective of promoting the social and solidarity economy that prioritizes the needs of people and communities over speculative interests.

A growing alternative model

Cooperative housingespecially under the transfer of use regime, has experienced remarkable growth in Catalonia in recent years. According to data from the Llargavista Cooperative Housing Observatory, since 2021 an increase of 140% has been recorded, going from 500 to 1,200 flats throughout the territory. This trend consolidates this model as one of the more viable alternatives to combat precariousness and real estate speculationoffering a sustainable and collective solution to a fundamental right: access to decent housing. The transfer of use model is based on the collective ownership of housing, managed through cooperatives. Members do not acquire ownership of the property, but pay a stable and affordable fee for its long-term transfer, which prevents speculation and promotes community coexistence.