The home ownership dream is increasingly out of reach and everyone in Victoria is feeling the impact. Co-operative housing most commonly sits in the ‘social housing’ space but is starting to be discussed as a shared ownership option too. The idea is pretty new to Australia – so we thought it was time to start a public conversation even if we don’t know all the answers yet.

Join 888 Co-operative Causeway Patron Magaret Feeney for an exploration to be led by our very own Co-operative Causeway member (and seasoned facilitator) Jacinta Cubis to discuss the value of existing co-operative housing options, as well as new global and local developments in shared/mixed equity co-operative housing to address our affordable housing crisis.

Join these leading practitioners and experts to help us explore these opportunities:

• Jacques Boulet, Borderlands Co-operative
• Nicola Foxworthy, Common Equity Housing
• Elena Pereyra, Co-housing Australia.

As an added bonus we welcome Waffle Irongirl (pictured below) for a slam poetry response (be warned Waffle Irongirl – for the uninitiated – is the poetical analogue of a heavy metal karaoke!).

Please note: basic casual attire required at this event – no thongs, singlets or shorts.

Background

Victorian Government analysis has found that median house prices in Melbourne have risen by over 40% since 2012 (49% in regional Victoria). One result is that from 1994-95 to 2013-14, home ownership rates dropped from 76% to 69% of Victorian households. Social housing in Victoria for people experiencing hardship has grown overall but as a proportion of total housing, the share of this housing type has fallen. At the most extreme end, we are seeing increasing numbers of homeless people surfing couches, living in cars or sleeping rough on the streets of Melbourne.

We find that these issues hit young people, older women and inner-city low-middle income workers the hardest. We all need a ‘roof over our head’ to have a strong base to enjoy the peace and prosperity that should be the birthright of all Victorians.