How to promote a new cooperative housing project?

The seed group

A seed group is a group of people who share the desire to live cooperatively. It can be born from a previous affinity (friendships, families, groups, etc.) or from a specific opportunity, such as a plot of land or a building. When a group is formed as a seed group within Sostre Cívic, you can access guidance, training and a support network to grow your project.

Assembly of the group ofEl Cairó

The four stages of the process

Promoting a cooperative housing project is a phased process. With the support of Sostre Cívic, each stage can be tackled in an orderly and shared manner:

Stage 1: Create the group

First, you need to form a cohesive group with a common motivation. It is important to know each other well, define shared values and goals, and assess the commitment of everyone.

It is recommended to dedicate at least six months to ensure a solid foundation. You can consult the guide “The construction and care of groups"

Stage 2: Search for heritage

Once the group is consolidated, it is necessary to find a plot of land or building to locate the project. Search criteria are defined and options are assessed according to their urban, legal and economic viability.

We have this guide to facilitate the search and evaluation of heritage.

Stage 3: Draw the project

With a group and a defined space, the project begins to be designed: the coexistence model, the architectural proposal, the economic and financial plan and the legal aspects. Each aspect is carried out with the assistance of a professional technical team.

It is an interactive process: it is built based on the group's desires and real and viable possibilities.

Stage 4: Obtain financing

The last stage consists of consolidating the project and obtaining the resources to make it a reality. The budget is specified and financing is arranged through contributions from the group, ethical banking, public administrations and participatory title campaigns.

What does it offer? Sostre Cívic?

We support seed groups with our own methodology and a shared structure that makes the model viable. Our support is based on three main axes:

Cooperative network: more than 2.100 members, 25 active projects and fifteen seed groups with whom to share experiences, tools and learnings. We organize regular meetings to strengthen the community and facilitate mutual support.
Structured training: We offer training itineraries adapted to each stage of the project (first steps, impetus, promotion, coexistence). They are free for members and combine practical sessions with useful content.
Own technical support: the professional team of Sostre Cívic It supports groups from within, with specialists in architecture, finance, law, facilitation and management.

- - This support it is not provided as an external serviceIt is an internal and shared resource within the cooperative, designed for the group to learn, make decisions and advance autonomously, always with the involvement and support of the technical team.

Why do it with Sostre Cívic?

Sostre Cívic is the leading cooperative in cooperative housing in right of use in Catalonia. Doing the project with us means being part of a rooted, safe and transformative model:

Social transformation: Cooperative housing not only provides access to a home; it also builds community and defends the right to housing without speculation. Sostre Cívic We promote projects throughout the territory, also for groups without resources or a prior network.
Collective shielding of cooperative property: The cooperative's assets are protected by democratic control of the General Assembly so that they cannot be sold or speculated on. Strategic decisions are taken collectively by all projects and members and the founding values (non-profit, sustainability, solidarity) are maintained permanently.
Autonomy and shared structure: Each project is autonomous in its decisions, but has the support, experience and stability of a consolidated cooperative.
Collective knowledge: All projects share learnings, resources and services. This reduces costs, strengthens decisions and facilitates mobility between projects if life changes.
Ethical and cooperative financing: We work with ethical and cooperative banks (Coop57, Fiare or Caixa d'Enginyers), but also with administrations (such as the ICF, ICO or the Council of Europe Bank) and our own channels such as participatory title campaigns.
Cooperative construction: We also have La Constructiva, our cooperative construction company to manage the work with transparency and control by the group.

How to be part of the cooperative?

To start a project with Sostre Cívic, each person who participates must become a member. Participation is individual and gives access to training, activities and decision-making spaces within the cooperative.

In addition, the group must be registered as a seed group. This allows us to offer appropriate support, participate in specific activities and recognize it as an active part of the cooperative.

To start the accompaniment, at least half of the living units in the group must have a partner.

👉 Membership form
👉 Group membership form

How much does it cost to participate?

Sostre Cívic We do not operate as a company that sells services: we are a non-profit housing and consumer cooperative. Accompanying groups is not contracted, but is part of a shared project that we want to make possible for everyone. The costs of the process are covered through fees that do not seek profit, but are calculated at cost, with solidarity and collective criteria. These fees are democratically approved within the cooperative and are applied according to the stage in which each project is.

If you want to know more about our quota system, ask us at info@sostrecivic.cat

Contact and more information

If you are thinking about starting a cooperative housing project, we recommend participating in one of the initial sessions for new seed groupsWe explain in detail how the support works, what stages must be followed and what tools we offer from the cooperative.

To check the next dates, just write to us at info@sostrecivic.cat.

→ It is important that most group members have attended a general information session beforehand. about the model and operation of Sostre CívicThis ensures that everyone shares common ground and helps start the process with more clarity and confidence. We organize at least two general information sessions per month: one in person and one virtual, so that everyone can participate. You can see the updated dates atour website agenda.