Cooperative Housing Pioneers in Central and South- Eastern Europe: Mainstreaming Alternatives through Translocal Networks

The document titled "Cooperative Housing Pioneers in Central and South-Eastern Europe: Mainstreaming Alternatives through Translocal Networks" is authored by Corinna Hölzl from the Geography Department of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. This paper, published in Volume 12, Issue 1 of 2025, highlights the challenges faced by grassroots housing movements in Europe, particularly within semi-peripheral countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe (CSEE). The paper points out that financing is a significant barrier for cooperative housing initiatives in these regions, where access to funding, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacities are often lacking.

Historically, the CSEE region has been characterized by a high rate of homeownership due to privatizations in the early 1990s, with over 70% of households owning their homes. However, this has resulted in a severe shortage of affordable rental and social housing, leading to precarious living conditions exacerbated by the dominance of foreign banks in local housing markets. Younger generations, who did not benefit from the earlier privatizations, are particularly affected by rising rents in urban centers like Prague, Budapest, and Zagreb. The lack of long-term financing options for cooperatives further complicates the establishment of affordable housing solutions.

In response to these challenges, the network MOBA (a solidarity-based transnational umbrella association) was formed, bringing together cooperative initiatives from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, and Slovenia. Since its inception in 2017 and formal establishment as a European Cooperative Society in 2020, MOBA aims to promote non-speculative housing alternatives and establish transnational solidarity-based financing. The network focuses on developing strategies that diverge from neoliberal housing narratives and supports local, long-term affordable housing solutions.

The paper discusses how MOBA members are testing pilot projects in their respective countries, such as the Hungarian ACRED and the Czech Sdílené domy, which aim to create community-led housing models. These initiatives are designed to provide affordable housing options for middle-class families who lack access to traditional credit. Key projects include various cooperative housing developments, such as the Križevci housing project in Croatia, which aims to provide 36 apartments.

MOBA's approach integrates translocal networking, allowing members to share knowledge and support each other in advocating for alternative housing policies. The network aims to politicize financialized housing markets and enhance visibility for cooperative housing solutions at both local and international levels. By uniting various initiatives, MOBA seeks to challenge the prevailing commodification of housing and promote community-led alternatives.

The study concludes that MOBA’s efforts represent a significant step towards de-financialization in housing, facilitating the emergence of innovative cooperative models. However, the success of these initiatives is contingent upon continued collaboration and the development of transnational financing instruments. As the region grapples with historical and systemic barriers, MOBA's work exemplifies the potential for grassroots movements to create sustainable housing alternatives in the face of financialized markets.