Housing cooperatives in Portugal: a transformative perspective

Portugal, like many other countries, faces significant challenges in the housing sector and finding effective solutions has proven to be an arduous task, as it requires the involvement of various players market, both public and private. Faced with this, which is one of the main problems facing the country today, we are witnessing the rebirth of housing cooperatives as a promising and transformative alternative to respond to citizens’ needs. This is, in fact, a model defended by the UN in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are aligned with the values ​​and principles of cooperatives.

Guided by common interests and democratic principles, these cooperatives thus offer a viable and sustainable response to the housing crisis, through a unique approach: based on the basic principles established by the International Cooperative Alliance, they are governed by values ​​such as voluntary membership and open, democratic management, fair distribution of rewards, continuous education and cooperation between members, principles common to all cooperatives in all sectors.

On the other hand, they encourage the empowerment of local communities, as they go beyond providing housing and allow their members to own and manage their own spaces. Furthermore, the equity that characterizes them means that all members have an equal voice, regardless of investment. This not only guarantees fair decision-making, but also promotes active participation by citizens in the development of cooperatives, enabling them to determine the conditions under which they want a given decision to be made.

By promoting a more holistic approach to housing development, cooperatives increase the sense of community and responsibility, which makes them more resilient to changes in the sector and economic crises.

Despite their obvious benefits, housing cooperatives face some challenges, especially in Portugal, namely lack of knowledge of the model and competition in an increasingly complex real estate market. However, these barriers are also opportunities for public education and partnership creation that can help expand the public sphere’s knowledge of and, therefore, encourage more people to join cooperative housing projects.

This process requires, however, innovation, adaptation and collaboration so that this housing model remains relevant and effective. The professionalization of cooperative development management therefore becomes an unavoidable path so that the competitiveness and evident benefit, characteristic of cooperatives, can be highlighted, even for reasons of internal and external credibility. The success of professional management of housing cooperatives in other European countries, such as our neighbor Spain, proves that this is the way forward.

In conclusion: by recognizing and supporting this cooperative model, centered on equity, democratic participation and sustainability, Portugal can move forward in building a fairer, sustainable and participatory housing future for all its citizens, while simultaneously promoting more active citizenship and empowerment of local communities.