Housing Co-Op: Affordability, Community, and Self-Determination

One of Burlington’s best-kept housing secrets is about to become better known!

On Saturday, October 3rd, leaders of housing cooperatives in Vermont and Montreal will explain how their co-ops work and why they love them. The co-ops offer self-determination, security, and a unique form of community.

They may have 18 households or 100, but whatever their size they are democratically run by their members, and some are the result of grassroots victories where members organized to keep control of their land.

Burlington has had co-ops for over 20 years and Montreal for over 30, and new ones keep forming. This year, residents of the Farrington mobile home park formed the North Avenue Co-op to buy their land, and a new apartment co-op is being built on Bright Street in the Old North End.

Bonus: Come early to learn about Vermont co-ops of all kinds! A co-op business fair starts at 2pm in the lobby of City Hall.

2 – 3 pm Co-op business fair
3 – 5 pm Home Sweet Housing Co-op: A Public Forum
Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall, 149 Church Street

Organized by Champlain Housing Trust and the Mobile Home Program of CVOEO in celebration of National Cooperatives Month. Co-sponsored by the City of Burlington’s Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) and by City Market/Onion River Co-op.