New Neighbours: A Case Study of Cooperative Housing

Christine Hughes is a policy analyst with the Ontario Native Affairs
Secretariat.

This book makes a valuable contribution to the nascent body of
literature on co-operative housing in Canada and anthropological
research conducted in contemporary, North American urban fieldwork
settings. The book is based on ethnographic research conducted between
January 1987 and November 1989 at two nonprofit, member-controlled
housing co-operatives located in Toronto’s Harbourfront area. The
housing co-ops profiled here—Harbourside and Windward —first opened
in 1986. Windward was unique because it was the first housing co-op in
Toronto fully accessible to people with disabilities. Harbourside was a
family-oriented co-op.

The authors’ main objective is to describe how co-op housing works.
They accomplish this by showing how the concepts of “participation,”
“quality of life,” “community,” and “democracy” are talked
about and put into practice by co-op members in their daily lives. The
first few chapters outline the demographic, economic, and social housing
trends in the mid-1980s that precipitated the development of the two
co-ops profiled. By far the most interesting aspect of the book is the
careful reporting of case studies and examples drawn from the authors’
transcripts and field notes. Some of the issues they examine include
member recruitment; how well mixing economic levels has worked; the
integration of nondisabled people with those who have disabilities; the
rewards and costs of member involvement; and conflicts over space and
financial matters. Each chapter is well referenced and concludes with a
useful summary of the major points discussed. A number of maps,
illustrations, and photographs are valuable additions. The authors’
research methodology is well documented.

Cooper is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at
McMaster University. Rodman holds the same position at York University.
After reading their book, it may be difficult for the reader not to
agree with their conclusion that nonprofit housing co-ops deserve
government support as a viable alternative to other forms of housing
currently available.