Implementing Intentional Affordability
Session materials from "Implementing Intentional Affordability," which was led by Jeff Bessmer (Santa Barbara Student Housing Co-op) at NASCO Institute 2013.
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Start-ups
Housing for an Economically Sustainable Future and California's AB 1024 - Video
A video by the Sustainable Economies Law Center. Created and narrated by Janelle Orsi.
This video describes how housing might be owned in a more economically sustainable future, and explains how California's Assembly Bill 1024 (Torres) can remove legal barriers to housing cooperatives in our communities. Learn more at http://www.theselc.org/AB1024.
Join a Community or Start One?
This resource was contributed by Laird Schaub for a workshop at NASCO's 2008 Cooperative Education and Training Institute.
Table of Contents
1. Pioneers vs. Settlers-Personality Profiles
2. The Queen Bee Syndrome-Challenges of Leadership
3. Location, location, location
4. Reinventing the Wheel vs. Wagging the Dog
5. Summary of Pros & Cons
6.
Getting Incorporated
These resources were contributed by Attorney David "Rosebud" Sparer as a resource for housing co-op organizers looking to incorporate as a non-profit or a cooperative.
Cooperative Business Planning
This resource includes several templates for cooperative business plans from actual housing cooperatives in North America. Other references provided are a blueprint for the development process, of which the business plan is a part, and a cooperative business plan presentation given at the 2009 NASCO Institute.
Non-Profit Incorporation
What is a Nonprofit Corporation?
Not-For-Profit: Pros and Cons
Nonprofit Corporation FAQ's
NASCO Co-op Organizer's Handbook
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.
File:
Sample Co-op Bylaws
These sample bylaw can give you an idea of some simple boilerplate language for incorporating your coop. Of course, a coop should get these bylaws looked at before submitting them, but these should give you a good idea of what you may want to do, and let you change things where you need to do so in order to make these match your needs.
File:
The Book of Genesis - Creating Bylaws & Policies
Creating bylaws and policy in student cooperatives
Filing for Tax Exemption
Document describing the process/options for applying for tax exemption in the United States.