In 2024, BMA aims to advance cooperative housing in Brussels as a sustainable alternative to traditional rental and ownership models. The key components to realize cooperative housing are access to land, funds, and the willingness of resident groups to organize as a housing cooperative. On May 13th, we bring together some pioneers from Geneva, Rotterdam, and Barcelona to hear firsthand how they have tackled these three challenges: Land, Capital and Community.

Cantonal architect Francesco Della Casa will explain how, thanks to strong political will and simplified access to land, housing cooperatives in Geneva have been rising for about a decade. Arie Lengkeek will take us to the Netherlands. In the fall of 2023, a rolling fund of 30 million euros was confirmed to support housing cooperatives and increase their financial strength. Which financing solutions are possible and how do they work in practice? Finally, Sostre Civic will clarify how in Barcelona future residents are a key factor in the establishment and anchoring of housing cooperatives.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Lisa De Visscher. Afterwards, there will be room for questions from the audience about the main levers for the revival of housing cooperatives in Brussels. Meeting place: 59 Rue de Namur, 1000 Brussels. Registration is possible via this form!