When the light goes out, the community is activated: collective dynamics that generate security and emotional well-being in the face of uncertainty

THEmass power outage on April 28, 2025, which affected the entire Spanish state and other parts of Europe, tested society's resilience in the face of a sudden and unexpected crisis. But amidst the uncertainty and disconnection, cooperative housing projects in Sostre Cívic they became spaces of care, collective creativity and mutual support, showing the fundamental value of community life.

In the projects, the absence of light and digital connections became an opportunity to reconnect with people close to them and activate shared resources. La Xicoira, for example, it all started with a battery-operated radio:

“We happened to have a battery-powered radio in the living room, and some neighbors came down to get it and a few of us got together. We put on a gas camping stove and cooked and ate together in the living room… We stayed practically until evening playing board games, listening to the radio, reading… and hanging out there. People would pass by, say hello, stay a while… Anyway, the truth is, it was really good.”, explains Eva Prats, a neighbor of the project.

This type of collective response was no exception. Clau Mestra, the spontaneous meeting was born around a paella pan and a butane cylinder:

“I came from Barcelona. When I arrived here I saw that many neighbors had set up with the paella pan and the butane cylinder, and with a transistor. They all asked me how I was. I felt safe and welcomed. It is a very good place to live and where to find a crisis like this, surrounded by people who we can find many possibilities together. It was a beautiful moment, chatting and sharing”, says partner Berta Argemí.

Meanwhile, in the project of Cirerers, the blackout also became a spontaneous demonstration of community and collaboration. When the power went out, all the neighbors went out onto the terrace and decided to bring whatever food they had to make a joint mealThe meeting continued with a community dinner taking advantage of a barbecue and a shared gas cylinder, and socializing with the available food among all. The day passed collectively, with the neighbors gathered on the terrace and the children playing there, maintaining company and mutual support as a natural response to the emergency situation.

These experiences illustrate how Cooperative spaces not only offer decent and affordable housing, but also a solid network of emotional and logistical support which becomes essential in crisis situations. The coexistence, trust and self-organization that characterize the projects of Sostre Cívic facilitate spontaneous and effective collective responses, which not only guarantee basic needs, but also the emotional well-being and mental health of people.

In unstable times like the one experienced last Monday, it is clear that cooperatives not only build housing, but also communityA community that, when all else fails, steps up, cares and supports.