“Cooperative housing is not just “OK, congrats, you have your home”. They have, you know, different resources available. So, if you’re struggling to make your payments, if you’re struggling just to settle in because we are in an apartment and they did state that they understand apartment living can be isolating – so, if you’re struggling, reach out. They really kind of push you to become a part of the community and just to realise that this is your home, and they want you to know that.”
This is the experience of Shawna, living in a home of Co-operative Housing Ireland in County Wicklow, a region south of Dublin shared on national TV channel RTE.
After all the jargon that we work with… “community-led”, “social innovation”, “affordable housing”, this is what Housing Europe’s network does in practice. “If you’re struggling, you reach out.” This is the major difference between public, cooperative, or social housing and landlords who have never seen the families living in their apartments.