Housing cooperatives embody one of the most tangible expressions of the cooperative values of self-help, democracy, and concern for community. They transform the basic human aspiration for secure and dignified shelter into a collective and participatory endeavour, ensuring that access to housing is guided not by speculation or profit, but by solidarity and shared responsibility. The International Legal Research and Analysis Initiative (ILRAI) on Housing Cooperatives, developed under the auspices of Cooperative Housing International (CHI) and supported by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), represents a significant step toward deepening our collective understanding of the legal and institutional conditions that enable these cooperatives to flourish.
