Who We Are

NAHC represents housing cooperatives, mutual housing associations, other resident-owned or controlled housing as well as professionals, organizations and individuals who work with and advocate for housing cooperatives. Incorporated in 1960 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, NAHC is the only national cooperative housing association in the U.S. Members govern the organization through a national board of directors responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s strategic plan and priorities. Housing cooperatives offer the more than one million families who live in them several benefits such as: a collective and democratic ownership structure, limited liability, lower costs and non-profit status. >> Meet the NAHC Board of Directors.

Our Mission

To support and educate existing and new cooperative housing communities as the best and most economical form of home ownership.

2018-2019 NAHC Board of Directors


Cooperatives Stats

According to the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), globally there are about 3 million cooperatives varying by sector and type, and about 12% of the human population are members of a cooperative. About 10% of the world’s population, or around 280 million people, are employed by cooperatives in some shape or form. In the United States, there are around 65,000 cooperative establishments, and one out of every three people is a member of a cooperative in one of the twelve major co-op industries that includes:

  • Housing
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Financial Services
  • Consumer
  • Grocery
  • Healthcare
  • Retail
  • Insurance
  • Purchasing
  • Utility Services
  • Worker

The exact number of cooperatives in the U.S. varies by sector and type. For example, the National Association of Housing Cooperatives housing reports in 2018 there are

Housing cooperatives are quite common in certain parts of the country, such as New York City, Washington, D.C. , and Chicago, but can be harder to find in other areas. Searching the UHAB Research ProjectCooperative Membership Listing Program or contacting one of eight Regional Member Associations of NAHC, are the best ways to find a cooperative in your area. Often your yellow pages will list cooperatives under the apartment section.

Learn more about the Cooperative Housing Model 

Want to know the best way to stay in the know about housing cooperatives, our advocacy work or get involved? You can join NAHC today! We offer several categories of affordable membership as an Individual, Cooperative or Professional member. Your membership helps NAHC promote the work we do and the cause of cooperatives across the United States and around the world. Interested in joining the cooperative movement? JOIN TODAY!