Our national research aims to identify not only all affordable co-ops in the county, but the organizations and institutions that work to develop, manage, and sustain housing co-ops.
Through a national census in 2015-2016 conducted with the support of the Ford Foundation, we found over 3,000 housing co-ops. These co-ops represent approximately 300,000 units of housing.
A little over half of these co-ops (166,000 units) remain limited-equity and thus affordable to future generations. An unknown number of co-ops, estimated around 35,000 units, remain very affordable despite the expiration of their limited-equity restrictions.
Explore the Map
Our community map is a research tool and resource that shows every affordable co-op in the USA as well as the formerly limited-equity co-ops that likely remain affordable. The map also includes over 1,000 zero-equity co-ops in Canada totaling over 67,000 units of affordable homeownership to the north.
The map is a work in progress and may contain incorrect information. If you would like to submit an addition or correction to the map, please contact us at info@uhab.org.
With additional support from the Co-op Foundation, we created the Sixth Principle Coalition, a group of practitioners and cooperators committed to support and grow the limited-equity co-op movement.
Our Research
Explore the data from our survey of thousands of co-ops and local practitioners across the country
Survey of housing cooperatives and the organizations that serve them
Highlights:
- 70% of respondents reported their co-op members do not have access to share loan financing.
- 75% report having income guidelines and resale policies.
- 25% report having affordability restrictions that will expire.
Research Updates, 2015 and 2016
Further research in 2015 and 2016 clarified the number of remaining limited equity co-ops.