'A community approach to the housing crisis': How cooperatives work compared to public housing in Australia

For many families in Australia, securing safe and affordable housing has become increasingly difficult. Some are turning to housing cooperatives (co-ops), but how exactly do they differ from traditional social housing?

For over 20 years, Gilda Pagaduan, a mother of five, has called KCL home. Kapitbahayan Co-operative Ltd (KCL), was established in 1995 by Filipino immigrant families in Sydney. Image Credit: Brian Laul/Canva

Key Points

• According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), house prices have risen significantly across Australia in the decade leading up to the last quarter of 2024.
• Unlike public or social housing, which is owned and managed by the government, co-ops are community-managed, with residents collectively owning or managing their homes.
• Gilda Pagaduan, a mother of five and a long-time resident of Kapitbahayan Co-op in Western Sydney, says the co-op has been a lifeline for her family.
• Kapitbahayan Co-operative Limited (KCL), founded in 1995 and based in Western Sydney, is a housing cooperative that primarily serves Filipino and other migrant communities, providing affordable, community-managed housing.

Listen to the podcast

Paano nakakatulong ang housing co-op sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan ng abot-kayang tirahan sa Australia?

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