MISSION

To address the current housing crisis by creating a co-operative model of living for people who are currently in insecure rental situations and bring unused land back into community use in perpetuity. To bring together a group of people who can mutually support one another and work to create positive change in the wider community while feeling stable and financially secure. To be representational of the diverse communities locally, dismantling barriers to access.

OUR AIMS

△△△ To build at least 10 low cost accessible co-housing units for single people and families who are private renting or in temporary accommodation and have no current assets.

△△△To identify people who want to live by co-operative principles who are from the area, have moved here and work to support the local community and/or have significant barriers to private renting or buying property.

△△△To design communal areas for shared amenities, food growing, social gatherings and workshop space

△△△To use environmentally, sustainable and climate durable materials in order to minimise energy consumption, reduce outgoings and ensure longevity of buildings.

△△△To consult with the neighbourhood the land is in to find out what their needs are and make sure the scheme fits within existing community

△△△To provide opportunities for the community to be involved with the co-op by offering different kinds of creative workshops, building/diy skills, gardening and growing sessions, yoga classes and one to one therapy.

△△△To manage the building and land collectively, with every member responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and day to day running of the co-operative.

△△△To be a model for further developments, offering learning outcomes, workshops and continually making our process transparent.

△△△To identify and purchase a piece of land or building with the support of Hastings Commons Community Land Trust or Hastings Housing Alliance via a community investment and/or shares offer

△△△To lease this land from Hastings Commons CLT

△△△To apply for a development loan from Ecology to cover the costs of the building which will transfer to a mortgage on completion

△△△To design a scheme for the land using professional knowledge (i.e. architect, surveyor etc)

△△△To submit the scheme to planning

△△△To raise further support for the build and on-going costs through offering loan stock for a limited time

△△△To set monthly rents according to local housing allowance rates with a small monthly amount for a sink fund for repairs and maintenance

△△△To ensure the buildings and land are owned and/or managed by the co-op and held for people within the community in perpetuity.