Sostre Cívic, established in Barcelona in 2004, is the first organisation in Catalonia to promote the “right to use” housing cooperative model. Initially set up as an association, it responded to critical housing shortages and the lack of affordable, non-speculative housing options in the region. The organisation became a legal cooperative in 2010 to enable the development of its first cooperative housing projects.
With more than 1,000 members, Sostre Cívic operates as a cooperative umbrella for a growing network of housing initiatives. As of the most recent figures, it manages 17 projects—including six where residents are already living—comprising 86 inhabited dwellings, although some external sources report up to 22 projects and 175 homes in use. Each project is managed independently by its own assembly, ensuring autonomy and financial separation across initiatives.
In 2024, Sostre Cívic secured €31 million from the Council of Europe Development Bank to construct 350 new cooperative homes on municipal land in cities such as Barcelona, Lleida, Manresa, Granollers, and Vilafranca del Penedès. These homes are designed with features like solar panels, water recycling, and shared mobility options, and some are tailored for residents with disabilities or older adults.
Sostre Cívic’s work is supported by local government grants and ethical banks. Its ambition is to see cooperatives account for 10% of Catalonia’s housing stock within the next two to three decades. The organisation remains committed to collective ownership and keeping dwellings permanently outside speculative real estate markets.