5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Market-oriented housing policies have primarily focused on housing as a commodity, failing to ensure affordable and adequate housing for all, and have contributed this way to the current global housing and social crisis. In this context, there has been a significant resurgence of self-organized, participatory housing forms. Despite growing interest, research and knowledge transfer on such collaborative housing (CH) efforts remain weakly connected, especially between the Global North and South. The session seeks therefore to facilitate a cross-geographical discussion that enriches the academic and practical discourse on collaborative housing. For this purpose, we seek contributions from diverse geographical contexts that highlight innovative practices, challenges, and solutions in CH. We invite submissions that explore questions related to the diversity of CH models—including, among others, cooperatives, cohousing, Community Land Trusts (CLTs), self-help, and self-build initiatives—and their evolution, historical development, and adaptations to changing institutional settings. We are interested in how these housing practices address social inclusion, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Analyses of the socio-demographic factors, motivations, structural tensions and collaboration efforts among residents and external stakeholders driving such housing initiatives are also welcome, as well as studies exploring challenges faced by CH models and potential innovative solutions to enhance their effectiveness, sustainability and scalability. Additionally, a key underlying objective is to clarify the boundaries and intersections between CH and other housing forms, such as social housing, to better understand their unique attributes and contributions and reflect on potential-oriented policy recommendations.