The non-profit cooperative model is neither rental accommodation nor home ownership. Instead, this model allows us to build affordable multi-family housing that benefits from the efficiencies of rental accommodations and also includes many of the features people seek in single-family housing.

How does this model work? Instead of obtaining a mortgage and purchasing a home that they can resell, members of the cooperative purchase a moderately priced share and pay a monthly housing fee. In British Columbia, the cost of a share typically averages $2000 but may range up to $7000. Members do not build equity - if they move, their share is refunded and ownership reverts to the cooperative, which sells the share to a new resident. Members have secure, long-term tenancy, except in cases where they fail to pay the monthly fee or violate terms of the cooperative’s occupancy agreement. Non-profit housing cooperatives are governed by their members; they are democratic communities where we collectively make decisions about how the cooperative operates.

Our first building is still in the planning stages with a whole lot of work to do before any of us can move in. We’re all working really hard to make that happen as fast as possible, because many of us are looking to call this first building home as well! We plan to have our first building ready for occupancy in 2027. If you think you might be interested in membership one day, please sign up for our newsletter to stay informed when we open up our membership applications!

Net Zero Energy Buildings harness as much renewable energy as they use up!

The amount of energy that must be produced depends on how much the building uses. For instance, a building that produces no power could be net-zero if the occupants simply never use any! Of course, the more energy a building uses, the more it must produce to remain Net Zero.

We call buildings Net Zero if they can provide enough energy for a typical household. There is also Net Zero Energy Certification which can be awarded based on a third party audit of actual performance data.

Non-profit cooperative housing is a proven model for affordable housing! Our target is to price the monthly fee for all our residential units at below market rents in Kamloops, offering a significant level of affordability to everyone who resides in the building. Our units will not be subsidized or offer rents geared to income. Generally, our housing will not be income tested

Other types of affordable housing include supportive housing (with on-site support services), subsidized housing or rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing. These types of housing offer services and deeper affordability targeted towards individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Kamloops has several organizations who provide these types of housing, and we’re very supportive of their work! However, Propolis does not provide these types of affordable housing - our focus is on meeting a need for below-market housing that works for individuals and families who are priced out of the current market.

A walkable neighbourhood gives people a practical choice on whether or not to own a car. This means that most of the amenities we expect people to use on a regular basis are within a short walking distance, or via shared transportation.

Walkable neighborhoods have enormous benefits. Fewer cars means less traffic and less land use for parking and garages. This results in cheaper land and lower costs for housing. Besides the obvious cost savings of not paying for a vehicle and its associated financial burdens, fewer cars also leads to less air pollution, quieter and greener cities and fewer injuries from car accidents.

In a walkable neighbourhood, a focus would be made to enhance the pedestrian experience, allowing and encouraging people of all ages to be less dependent on cars for their daily tasks.

There are a lot of upsides to living at propolis!

We’re a cooperative, which means that the people who live in our buildings make all the decisions! We can shape our living situation however we see fit as our community grows in the years to come!

We’re a non-profit! That means no one will be making a profit while your rent goes up and up. Your housing fee only covers the building, maintenance costs and a bit to invest in future Propolis projects.

Community! Everyone involved in propolis is an active member of our community, doing our part to make it a more beautiful place! We’re creative and thoughtful, and our buildings are set up to encourage natural interactions. With all kinds of shared community rooms we can all inspire each other on a daily basis.

Our buildings are Net-Zero! Through solar, wind, good insulation, and passive heating and cooling, our buildings will provide for all our energy needs!

Self-sufficiency! With global climate change, we want to be able to rely on ourselves as much as possible. That includes food security, energy security, as well as creating buildings that don’t rely on complex repair and maintenance schedules.