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Proudly serving housing co-operatives in Southern Alberta since 1985
FAQ
How do IÂ apply to live in a housing co-op?
Contact the housing co-op(s) of your interest directly to request information about how to apply. As each housing
co-op is independently run, there are varying accommodations, membership criteria and application requirements. Please visit our Co-op Directory for a listing of individual co-ops and their contact information.
Can I apply for co-op housing through SACHA?
No. SACHA is not a housing provider, we are a federation that provides education and services to housing
co-operatives in Southern Alberta. You will need to contact housing co-operatives directly to inquire about availability or to apply.
I need to find an affordable housing solution ASAP. What do I do?
While many housing co-ops outside of Calgary tend to have a higher vacancy rate, housing co-ops in Calgary rarely have vacant units. As most co-ops also have a waitlist, this can make finding a home in a hurry quite difficult.
If you are in need of an urgent housing solution, visit the Alberta Affordable Housing Programs website. Here, you can access information about all affordable housing options in Alberta that will be tailored to your needs and based on your answers to a few questions.
How does a housing co-op work?
Co-operative housing is a collective form of housing. People apply for membership and when accepted, they buy shares to become members of the community. In addition to buying shares in the co-op, members pay a monthly housing charge which provides the revenue required to run the co-op.
Co-op members/shareholders are co-owners of the co-op property. Members vote approval of the annual budget, decide on the monthly housing charge, approve policies and elect a board of directors to do the business. Members own the co-op as a whole and are assigned a unit in which to live. To learn more about co-op housing, see the About Co-ops.
What is the eligible age to apply to live in a housing co-op?
Membership in a housing cooperative in Alberta is open to all persons who are 18 years of age or older and who can meet the financial obligations of living in the co-op. Contact the housing co-op(s) of your interest directly to request more information about eligibility requirements for membership. Please visit our Co-op Directory for a listing of individual co-ops and their contact information.
How does subsidy work, am I eligible?
While some co-ops offer subsidy to help eligible members pay their monthly housing charges, this is not available at every housing co-op.
Co-ops that do offer subsidy have criteria and income requirements that must be met to qualify. Subsidy criteria will vary amongst co-ops and, you will need to contact the specific co-op(s) you are interested in to learn more about their subsidy options. Please visit our Co-op Directory for a listing of individual co-ops and their contact information.
Are housing co-ops wheelchair accessible?
As the majority of current co-operative properties are older (many built in the late 70's and 80's), they were not built with wheelchair accessibility in mind. While many housing co-ops have plans for retrofitting a certain number of units on an annual basis, this is a process that happens slowly and over time.
Currently, West Scenic Acres housing co-op has a number of retrofitted units that have been adapted for wheelchair accessibility, please contact this co-op directly for more information.
Does SACHA offer co-op housing information sessions?
While SACHA did offer free public information sessions in the past, in recent years it has become commonplace for individual housing co-ops to provide free orientation/information session to interested individuals. Please contact
the co-op(s) of your interest directly to ask about their information sessions. Visit our Co-op Directory for a listing of individual co-ops and their contact information.