Common Equity Housing Limited (CEHL)

We're determined to secure Australia's future and that means getting more social and affordable housing built. Yesterday in Ringwood, Jim Chalmers, Matt Gregg - Labor candidate for Deakin, and I toured Lakewood, an affordable co-op rental housing development that was redeveloped with the support of Housing Australia. We also had the opportunity to meet some of the incredible tenants who live here. After a decade of Coalition neglect, Labor's building tens of thousands of social and affordable homes right across Australia to take the pressure off renters everywhere.

Our Lakewood Housing Co-op recently hosted a morning tea for Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Federal Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, followed by a discussion on rental housing co-operatives.    The Treasurer and Minister were keen to hear directly from members about their experiences navigating the challenges of the private rental market — which for some has included experiences of homelessness. Members shared with the ministers how Lakewood has provided long-term stability, a strong sense of community, and the opportunity to participate in the management of their housing. These benefits, often lacking in the private rental sector, offer a hopeful vision for the future of housing in Australia.    Co-operative housing is an evidence-based solution to Australia’s housing crisis, and we are encouraged by the government’s interest in learning more about its potential. The Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA), a leading advocate for co-op housing, is actively working to promote and support the growth of the Australian co-op housing sector. Learn more about what they would like the government to do to support this growth in the link below.   The time for co-op housing is now! 🏘️

Coop Conversations is a podcast series presented by Co-operative Housing International and hosted by Julie LaPalme. Listen to learn more about cooperative living and why housing coops are such wonderful and unique places to live. https://lnkd.in/gTPsXsD2

2025 marks the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC), a year-long celebration of co-operatives worldwide. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the unique value of housing co-operatives in Australia. Research by Western Sydney University highlights that tenant-members benefit significantly from living and participating in rental housing co-operatives, including: -         Skills development -         Employment and educational outcomes, as a result of that skills development -         Satisfaction with housing stability, quality, and security -         Greater social capital -         Sense of health and wellbeing, including that of children -         Sense of agency, empowerment, and voice

Thanks to a generous donation, CEHL were able to support three Co-op Board Directors to attend the Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA) Summit in Adelaide late last year. One attendee said “It was a privilege and being there helped me realise the value of what we’re doing here in my co-op.” “…the energy and passion of everyone in the room made me feel like I belonged. I found it really interesting listening to guest speakers from overseas... they’re doing co-ops in a much more efficient way. We can learn a lot from how they do things and try to implement some of those ideas in Australia.” A big focus of the summit, and of Australia’s housing market generally, is the vital role co-ops can play in addressing the housing crisis. Attendees learnt more on how to advocate for change, including using the ACHA co-op housing ‘blueprint’ to better explain how the sector works. Read the ACHA Blueprint here, https://lnkd.in/gsu53QNq

We’d like to welcome Bryan Madden to the CEHL Asset Development team.    Bryan brings a deep understanding of the community housing sector and a wealth of experience which will be a great asset to CEHL’s portfolio growth strategy.    Bryan and the team recently visited some of of our co-op properties, including our newest development in Brunswick, which will be opening its doors to a new co-operative in the coming months.

CEHL actively supports and promotes diversity and inclusion and ways to acknowledge and embrace our teams’ differences. We recognise that not everyone sees the 26th of January as a day of celebration, so our team members can choose to substitute the Australia Day public holiday for another day. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion isn’t just about protecting people’s rights; it’s about celebrating the value of each team member’s unique differences and enabling those differences to thrive within our workplace.

We were thrilled to spend the morning with Federal Housing Minister Clare O'Neil yesterday, visiting one of our co-ops in her local electorate.     Marek and Malgorzata kindly opened their doors to the Minister, sharing their co-op housing journey.    “We were living in expensive private rentals for a decade, and the uncertainty was taking a toll. It was a relief when we got the call from CEHL. Now, we are settled and have more time to give back to our community.”    Their stories provided the minister with a deeper understanding of the real-life benefits of living in a co-op and how it contributes to long-term, affordable housing solutions.    We also took the opportunity to give the minister a copy of Australian Co-operative Housing Alliance (ACHA) policy blueprint showing what the government could do to support growth in sector.    Co-operatives are an important piece to Australia’s housing puzzle and it’s fantastic to see our decision makers wanting to better understand how we work.    Read more on ACHA’s blueprint here:  https://lnkd.in/gsu53QNq   Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) Common Equity Housing SA Ltd Uniting

CEHL were recently part of this Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia story, showing how communities in Indonesia and Australia are innovating to tackle their respective housing crises. In Jakarta, evicted residents turned to community-driven solutions like Kampung Susun Akuarium (KSA). Built through cooperative efforts and funded by developer contributions, KSA offers affordable, community-centred housing in the city. Its transformative approach has earned global recognition, including a World Habitat Award. Back here at CEHL, we champion co-operative housing in Australia as Victoria's largest provider. Our community governance and collective effort model not only builds sustainable housing solutions, but also empowers the people living inside. Every day we can see the positive impact co-operative housing is making. 🌍The takeaway? From Jakarta to Melbourne, community-led housing models pave the way sustainable and inclusive housing.

Congratulations to the 2024 CEHL honour board recipients; Kevin from Larrakeyah CERC and Sharyn from Eastern View CERC. Every year the CEHL Honour Board recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their co-op, the wider co-op program, and the community. Kevin and Sharyn have gone above and beyond to make a lasting impact on their co-op and the broader co-op housing movement. CEHL Board Chair, Fiona Herman, announced the recipients of the award on behalf of the CEHL Board, at the 2024 CEHL AGM. Their dedication has not just provided housing, but also cultivated a strong sense of community within the CEHL co-op program.