What Is It?

The Organizer's Handbook is a comprehensive guide to creating group-equity housing cooperatives. By explaining the cooperative movement, campus and community organizing, nonprofit incorporation, financing, and housing development, this important resource demystifies a challenging project. The first and second editions were released in 1991 and 1999, with a 3rd Edition released in 2008.  This most recent edition is more comprehensive, written with accessible language with advice that can be used in a wide range of different coop settings.

Who Should Read It?

The Handbook is an essential resource for the student or community organizer focusing on housing issues. Furthermore, it is an informative and illuminating read for progressive people concerned about affordable housing and college accessibility. While the 3rd Edition focuses on group equity cooperatives, many of the resources will prove useful to people organizing student, community, and non-housing co-ops. Active students, affordable housing advocates, college administrators, foundations, libraries, concerned citizens, and nonprofit organizations will all find the Handbook an excellent addition to their collection of resources. NASCO expects to have a version of the handbook designed with an emphasis on accessibility and usefulness as a quick reference for groups in the midst of organizing new cooperatives by early 2009.

Getting the Handbook

Via Snail Mail:

The Organizers Handbook can be ordered from NASCO by emailing or calling the NASCO office. Please note that there will be a small cost, used for printing, shipping and handling.

Download a Copy:

The Organizers Handbook is available in pdf format. You can download it and print it out.