Public housing projects were the original form of government supported housing for low-income residents. Over the last fifty years many projects have struggled with high crime rates and numerous social problems. One solution proposed to address these ongoing issues is granting residents decision-making power within their community by converting into a co-operative. Building a Co-operative Community in Public Housing follows the journey of a Toronto public housing complex as it was converted into a resident-operated co-operative, a first in Canada.

Jorge Sousa traces the story of Alexandra Park, which became the Atkinson Housing Co-operative in 2003 after a ten-year conversion process. Sousa, who himself was raised in the community, provides an empirical account of the contributing factors that influenced its decision to pursue community-based control, as well as the experiences of both residents and government officials engaged in this process. Finally, Building a Co-operative Community in Public Housing offers a framework for other communities facing similar circumstances who want to learn how to go about undertaking this process.

All royalties from this book will be contributed to the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto Charitable Fund.

"Building a Co-operative Community in Public Housing conveys experiences that should be of interest to a wide readership of activists, policy workers, and scholars. Jorge Sousa has accepted a major challenge in reporting in detail on a complex and extended process, and his study is clearly driven by his commitment and depth of knowledge. His book's concern with strategies for improving the conditions of people living in public housing, as well as its focus on community development, will attract readers from Europe, North America, Australasia, and beyond." -- Ian Skelton, Department of City Planning, University of Manitoba

About the Author
Jorge Sousa is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.


Book Information
ISBN 9780802038036
Author Jorge Sousa
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint University of Toronto Press
Publisher University of Toronto Press
Weight(grams) 380g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 14mm