What is the Shared Houses network? Basically, it is a network of houses providing its residents affordable and community‑based accommodation in collective ownership.
An overwhelming majority of people want to live in a decent and pleasant environment, no matter whether it means a rented flat or a house “of their own”. Many people want to live together with others in community housing. Our collective also wants to find an answer to the question of decent housing conditions in the era of escalating rents. Because more hands make light work, as they say, we have decided to create a housing model (inspired by several functioning systems in Western Europe) that is based on community principles, practically, as well as legally and financially, and to make sure that the future property will permanently serve residential purposes. The core of our plan is to purchase the first building, the first swallow, to own it, manage it and make it thrive. Though primarily for residential use, we would like it to include public spaces for cultural and social purposes. Later, we want to extend the network to include projects of other collectives. The network itself will be legally defined and provide practical, legal and financial support to other projects and groups. At the same time, it will guarantee primarily residential use of all the properties purchased.
