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THE MUTUAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Social Housing

Fall 2002
 

The Mutual Housing Association is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) partnership organization that develops, owns and manages new and existing affordable housing in the community interest. Membership is composed of mutual housing residents and potential residents, representatives of municipal and state government, and leaders from businesses and the broader community. A board of directors representative of the membership governs the association. Each board member has one vote; mutual housing residents and potential residents constitute a majority of the membership of the board of directors.

The mission of the Mutual Housing Association is to provide safe, permanently affordable housing and security from displacement for low- and moderate-income residents. Beyond developing housing, the association's mission is to build a strong and stable community through the empowerment of its residents. The Mutual Housing Association is committed to being an ongoing producer of affordable housing to meet the current and future housing needs.

The Mutual Housing Association owns all of the housing units. Although residents cannot buy or sell their units directly, they do have the pride of ownership that is usually associated with traditional home ownership. Residents have a significant voice in decision-making and have a lifetime right to live in the housing. Resident membership in the association, combined with the rights under the occupancy agreement, constitutes a personal property ownership interest in most states.

The Mutual Housing Association employs a professional property manager who works closely with the residents to ensure quality housing over the long term. Residents are actively involved in the day-to-day maintenance as well as setting the overall policies that govern housing operations and the association. Mutual housing may be developed from existing structures through rehab or may be new construction. It is developed for long-term, multi-generational use. The Mutual Housing Association is committed to using all resources in excess of its operating and maintenance costs for the continued production of additional housing units.

BENEFITS OF MUTUAL HOUSING TO THE RESIDENT

‘ "A step up from rental housing," Mutual Housing offers many of the advantages of traditional home ownership:

‘ Quality housing - well-constructed and well-maintained

‘ Sensitive, responsive management - which works for the members.

‘ Security of tenure - with residents assured an affordable home for as long as they wish to stay, provided there's no serious breach of the occupancy agreement.

‘ Continued affordability - housing is not to be sold and market pressures do not affect it.  Housing costs are directly related to the costs of operation.

‘ Resident control - each member having a voice in making policy decisions.

BENEFITS OF MUTUAL HOUSING TO THE COMMUNITY
‘ Affordable housing for employees, ensuring a stable workforce.

‘ A stable tax structure in the community

‘ The creation of a permanent, quality housing resource for generations to come.

‘ Participation in a nonprofit association that can be for financially self-sufficiency through the generation of housing development and property management fees

‘ The ability to revitalize the neighborhood and tackle other problems, such as education, drugs & crime, once residents have secure, affordable housing.

From the Davis Mutual Housing Association, http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/go/terbeaux/mutual.html

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