Community Housing Expansion of Austin (CHEA) was started in Spring of 2002 by a group of alumni from the College Houses coop system in order to promote non-campus based cooperatives and provide affordable housing in the Austin area.

CHEA uses an open membership model, believing that all members of the community should be able to enjoy the responsibilities and benefits of membership in the cooperative, and that fully open membership is an inherent part of the cooperative method, in addition to being a great strength for the members of the coop.

Currently, CHEA operates one house, known as the Sasona Cooperative, and located in the Zilker neighborhood in South Austin. Sasona houses 17 members, and allows for associate members of the house to pay a reduced rate for meals and the use of house facilities.