| Madison Community Cooperative (MCC), founded in 1968, is a thriving housing cooperative consisting of about 200 members who collectively own and manage 11 cooperative houses. Our houses are located on Madison’s isthmus and range in size from about 6 to about 30 members.
Each of our houses features individual bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and a large communal kitchen. Members at all of our houses are part of house level dining co-ops. Most of these dining co-ops are also open to members of the Madison community who are not members of MCC.
Our members are young and old, workers and students, parents and non- parents, and represent a diversity of ethnicities, national backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. The central mission of MCC is to improve the Madison community by providing low-cost, not- for-profit cooperative housing for very low to moderate income people and to be inclusive of underrepresented and marginalized groups.
MCC is run by our members at our bi-weekly Board of Directors meetings; bi-weekly Maintenance, Finance, and Membership Committee meetings; tri-annual General Membership meetings; and weekly house meetings. Each of our houses has its own unique culture and history and is entrusted with a high-level of autonomy. Each of our houses is responsible for its house policies, membershipping process, workjob system, annual budget development, minor maintenance program, dining co-op, house meeting system, and designation of Board and committee representatives. | |
Population Open to new children: Yes Gender Balance: 50% M 50% F (NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation)) | Government Decision Making: By consensus (Most decisions are made using a form of consensus; General Membership decisions may be by some percentage of majority.) Leadership Core Group: Yes (House representatives to the board of directors and committees, officers elected at large) | Labor and Money Financial Style: Members have independent finances Labor Contribution: Expected (Each house sets its own labor policies; generally individuals contribute 20-25 hours/month) Regular Fees: Yes (Must be able to pay security deposit and monthly room & food charges) | Land and Buildings Urban Land Owned By: The community | Food, etc. Percentage of Food Grown: 1-5% Share Community Meals: Nearly all dinners Dietary Choice or Restrictions: Diet is up to each individual Dietary Practice: Other (Some houses buy & cook only vegetarian &/or vegan foods; others also buy & cook meat) Alcohol Use: Used occasionally Tobacco Use: Used Occasionally (Most houses do not allow tobacco smoking in common areas; some do allow it) | Social Factors Open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender members: Yes (Definitely!) Shared Spiritual Path: No Educational Style(s): Other (Parents choose) | |
