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Shared Resource Library

One of the most valuable assets of the cooperative movement is our collective knowledge. Our Shared Resource Library, a constantly growing collection of documents and files, is a tool for sharing that knowledge.

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Highlighted Resources

 

With roots in the women's movement of the late 1800s, group equity co-ops have continued against the odds for almost 150 years, finding ways to create both affordable housing and community across North America. This book is the story of that journey.
This 11x17" print-ready infographic poster detailing the US Fair Housing Act includes an overview of federally protected classes and examples of how housing discrimination may show up in your co-op.
NASCO's Repository of Incorporation Statutes by State/Province includes a map of which provinces/states have co-op incorporation statutes and which statutes are available to incorporate under.
This House Maintenance Coordinator Handbook was created by Madison Community Cooperative (MCC) to serve as a reference guide. MCC has shared this handbook with NASCO so that other co-ops may adapt it for their own use.

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FAIR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD - A DIGITAL TOOLKIT

From The Housing Center:

This toolkit was created to provide fair housing guidance for formerly incarcerated individuals as well as family members and professionals advocating for those impacted by the criminal legal system. Many formerly incarcerated individuals face continued penalties post-incarceration by being excluded from housing based upon their criminal records. This toolkit is meant to provide information on fair housing rights and resources that can assist in navigating barriers to finding housing.

File: 
PDF icon FAIR-HOUSING-FOR-PEOPLE-WITH-A-CRIMINAL-RECORD-A-DIGITAL-TOOLKIT.pdf

Mobilizing Housing Development For Youth Aging Out of Foster Care

Session materials from “Mobilizing Housing Development For Youth Aging Out of Foster Care” presented by Donna Coulter at NASCO Institute 2024. During this session, Higher Ground Abodes described its efforts to develop housing with people extremely low-income Detroiters aging out of foster care who need housing, financial, and life support. The model combines community land trust (CLT) and group equity cooperative living to provide shared housing within the youth's financial reach.

File: 
PDF icon Mobilizing a Housing Co-op Development for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.pdf
File Pro Forma Template for Group Coop.xlsx

Revitalizing Your New Member Acceptance Practices

Session materials from “Revitalizing Your New Member Acceptance Practices” presented by Emily Sears and Rahul Mannapperuma at NASCO Institute 2024.  Updating your co-op's practices to align with your vision, mission and goals is no small feat. After a downward trend of engaged student members, Neill-Wycik decided to overhaul their membership acceptance from a "First Come, First Serve" policy to a rigorous, robust process to ensure the alignment of new co-op members with the co-op's mission and vision as best as possible.

 

File: 
PDF icon Revitalizing New Member Acceptance Practices.pdf

Building Economic Democracy: Building Blocks for Co-op Strategy

Session materials from “Building Economic Democracy: Building Blocks for Co-op Strategy” presented by Steve Dubb at NASCO Institute 2024.  How can co-ops not just serve member-owners, but act as the life-affirming institutions that we need to build a more democratic economy, rooted in values of solidarity? This session introduced key strategies that can build wealth and power in communities —such as community land trusts, participatory budgeting, public banks, and employee ownership.

File: 
PDF icon Building Economic Democracy.pdf

From Coop to Community

Session materials from “From Coop to Community” presented by Daniel Greenberg at NASCO Institute 2024. Do you love living in community and want to make it part of your life post-college? Come learn about the Foundation for Intentional Communityn (www.ic.org), the Global Ecovillage Network (www.ecovillage.org) and other opportunities to stay connected to the growing movement of communities striving to model positive visions for humanity and the planet.

Community and Affordability: Innovations in the Community Housing Movement

Session materials from “Community and Affordability: Innovations in the Community Housing Movement” presented by Sarah Wells at NASCO Institute 2024. Throughout the country, housing organizers and developers are coming together to reimagine and embrace forms of community housing that allow for everyday interaction while also preserving affordability. As we seek to become a more inclusive movement, affordability is a top strategy for achieving all kinds of diversity.

File: 
PDF icon Community and Affordability- Innovations in the Community Housing Movement.pdf

Mental Health Crises in Housing Cooperatives: A Consent and Context-Based Approach

Session materials from “Mental Health Crises in Housing Cooperatives: A Consent and Context-Based Approach” presented by James Gleespen at NASCO Institute 2024. Mental health crises are common in housing cooperatives, but it can be difficult to know how to respond. In addition, traditional teachings about how to respond to crises can conflict with principles we value, like consent, and can perpetuate oppressive harm. In this session, you’ll learn how to respond to mental health crises in your co-op in a way that prioritizes consent and protects the autonomy of the individual in crisis.

File: 
PDF icon Mental Health Crises in Housing Co-ops.pdf