cohousing advocacy: collaborate with local municipalities

secure municipal support through effective advocacy and policy navigation.

This course is an in-depth exploration of proven effective strategies for securing municipal support for your cohousing community project. Learn how to navigate local government processes, engage key stakeholders, and build strong relationships with city officials, planners, and community leaders. Through real-world case studies and expert guidance, you’ll gain practical tools to advocate for zoning approvals, funding opportunities, and policy alignment that support your vision. Whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen existing efforts, this course will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to successfully collaborate with local municipalities.

Value and Key Outcomes: While many groups struggle with how to build municipal support, this course demystifies the challenge by sharing case studies of numerous successes. By covering the risks and limitations of making “cohousing” a loophole, developers use as another important perspective in how to work with local decision-makers and explore Europe’s success in growing cohousing and what lessons can be applied to efforts in the U.S. Participants will also hear from others about their successes and challenges, and with breakouts for you to reflect on how to engage in local advocacy.

This workshop is for: Individuals passionate about advocating for cohousing, grassroots efforts and creating lasting local change, architects, developers, and planners, those seeking to launch new, locally-focused projects like homeless shelters, healthcare clinics, or educational centers, or anyone looking to build a traditional cohousing community, a tiny house village, or another innovative housing project, this workshop will provide the tools you need.

By the end of this workshop, participants will have the skills, strategies, and inspiration needed to organize and execute their own community development projects—whether they are focused on cohousing or other local municipal need.