As housing becomes less affordable, cooperative housing presents a viable solution to alleviate housing stress. While often seen as transitional and transactional, collective housing can be more than a cost effective, practical arrangement. Successful shared households that maintain relationships and make good collective decisions can potentially last for many years, be wonderful places to live, and may lead to group home purchases or develop into larger intentional communities.

Many people 'fall into' shared housing without much support or education on how to make them work effectively. Sociocracy or dynamic governance is an egalitarian decision-making methodology that enhances living arrangements in communal settings. Combined with effective communication practices, such as non-violent communication \(NVC\), and a willingness for members to know their own needs, emotional triggers, values and vision, we can transform shared accommodations into vibrant and cohesive micro-communities.