Q: How does the living at the Community Alternatives Cooperative (CAC) differ from a typical commercial rental property?
Using the model developed by the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC, the CAC is based on Co-Management: all members are managers and govern the coop collectively. Residents are therefore expected to take an active role in organizing and attending business meetings, participate in a community committee (e.g. the maintenance committee) and each resident is assigned a monthly chore to ensure the building and community spaces are well maintained. Generally, residents are expected to dedicate about eight hours of time to coop tasks and administration each month.
Q: Can I or my family have our own apartment?
The CAC has 9 apartments (aka "pods") of different sizes, housing between 3 to 6 people sharing common areas such as a kitchen, living room and bathrooms. In the rare event that all the bedrooms of one apartment would become vacant at the same time, a family could be accommodated in one apartment.
Q: Is there a waiting list to get into the CAC and how do I apply?
Short answer: No. When a pod has an upcoming vacancy, the podmates themselves review the recent applications on the website and contact the people they resonate with to arrange interviews and determine the best fit for their pod. It is therefore advised that, if you are interested in joining the Coop, you fill the online application form regularly.
Q: Are references required?
Yes, we require 3 references, ideally housing, employment and friend, to be supplied at interview time
Q: How do I become a member of the coop?
If you are selected by a Pod and move into the coop, there is a three to six-month trial period to assess long term compatibility. If after this trial period you are a good fit, your pod mates will nominate you for membership, to be voted on by the Community. The damage deposit paid initially is then converted into your Coop shares.
Q: Who lives at the coop?
The coop residents span a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and personalities. The current range of members includes students, people working in a variety of fields, children and retirees.
Q: What other amenities does the coop provide?
Each resident/member is personally entitled to the bedroom they rent. All bedrooms have a private balcony or patio. Beyond that, each Pod has a shared kitchen, living room, and dining area that are shared among pod members. Each resident is also able to utilize the garden and courtyard, vehicle and bicycle parking areas, storage area, laundry room, the rooftop with bbq, and library.