Great article. Co-operative housing much more numerous across Europe. Could it be part of the solution to the current lack of affordable housing in Manchester and elsewhere?
Judging by the long waiting list here it’s certainly popular. Surprising that the number of such co-operatives in Greater Manchester has actually declined. Could be worth an article investigating why?
I loved reading this. We need more housing coops like Homes for Change. I imagine everyone has a story about an awful landlord, they are all too common these days. As one of the residents says, there's a relief in knowing that your landlord isn't going to behave like a massive turd. There's security and relief in that. Thank you! Looking forward to reading the next interview.
This seems like such a great place. Tensions will always arise with co-operative living schemes , i hope they get the points discussed sorted out to enable them to just live.
My neighbours have cats and unfortunately I have problems in my front garden. I have to resort to all sorts of tactics to deter them but when the foliage grows the problems decrease. In the meantime I bag it up and leave it for the neighbours to deal with , job done. I told them I was going to do this and although I'm not happy about it I feel as if I'm taking control of a problem to take the heat out of the situation.
You don't need to live in a co-operative housing scheme to encounter problems such as these .
Hi team, thanks for the article by Sophie very interesting and thought provoking of how co-operative living could be successful in other parts of the region. I'm looking forward to the article on Charlie Baker and his creation Homes for Change Hulme. Keep up the good work. I don't live in the area but work at Exchange Quay and visit Chorlton weekly to go to church at RedeemerMCR in the Oswald Road Primary school.
Fascinating article, particularly as I used to live in Homes for Change from when it opened in the 90's until 2011. I loved the sense of community (one of the reasons I stayed for so long) but have to admit that trying to persuade everyone to contribute to the day to day running of the place was always an issue - not just prospective members but also those that already lived there. A personal commitment to contribution of some form was (in the tenancy agreement) rated as important as paying your rent and whilst (eventually) some members lost their tenancies due to persistent non-payment of rent, as the article makes clear, no-one was ever removed due to lack of contribution - which, too my mind, rather defeated the object. As with many voluntary endeavours/projects/organisations, the same few people seemed to be doing most of the work most of the time, which could cause resentments to bubble up. But overall, I'm really glad I was a part of Homes for Change's journey and still feel nostalgic and a sense of pride whenever I think of the place.
Great article. Co-operative housing much more numerous across Europe. Could it be part of the solution to the current lack of affordable housing in Manchester and elsewhere?
Judging by the long waiting list here it’s certainly popular. Surprising that the number of such co-operatives in Greater Manchester has actually declined. Could be worth an article investigating why?
I loved reading this. We need more housing coops like Homes for Change. I imagine everyone has a story about an awful landlord, they are all too common these days. As one of the residents says, there's a relief in knowing that your landlord isn't going to behave like a massive turd. There's security and relief in that. Thank you! Looking forward to reading the next interview.
Interesting article. Thank you.
This seems like such a great place. Tensions will always arise with co-operative living schemes , i hope they get the points discussed sorted out to enable them to just live.
My neighbours have cats and unfortunately I have problems in my front garden. I have to resort to all sorts of tactics to deter them but when the foliage grows the problems decrease. In the meantime I bag it up and leave it for the neighbours to deal with , job done. I told them I was going to do this and although I'm not happy about it I feel as if I'm taking control of a problem to take the heat out of the situation.
You don't need to live in a co-operative housing scheme to encounter problems such as these .
Hi team, thanks for the article by Sophie very interesting and thought provoking of how co-operative living could be successful in other parts of the region. I'm looking forward to the article on Charlie Baker and his creation Homes for Change Hulme. Keep up the good work. I don't live in the area but work at Exchange Quay and visit Chorlton weekly to go to church at RedeemerMCR in the Oswald Road Primary school.
Fascinating article, particularly as I used to live in Homes for Change from when it opened in the 90's until 2011. I loved the sense of community (one of the reasons I stayed for so long) but have to admit that trying to persuade everyone to contribute to the day to day running of the place was always an issue - not just prospective members but also those that already lived there. A personal commitment to contribution of some form was (in the tenancy agreement) rated as important as paying your rent and whilst (eventually) some members lost their tenancies due to persistent non-payment of rent, as the article makes clear, no-one was ever removed due to lack of contribution - which, too my mind, rather defeated the object. As with many voluntary endeavours/projects/organisations, the same few people seemed to be doing most of the work most of the time, which could cause resentments to bubble up. But overall, I'm really glad I was a part of Homes for Change's journey and still feel nostalgic and a sense of pride whenever I think of the place.