College Houses

TO MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT AND ACTIVITIES CONDUCIVE TO FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION, WHERE SELF-DISCOVERY AND EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS VALUE SYSTEMS, ACADEMIC LEARNING, AND EXPERIENCE WITH MANAGEMENT AND FOOD OPERATIONS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH; OPERATE BY THE COOPERATIVE METHOD OF ORGANIZATION; APPLYING DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND REAPING THE BENEFITS OF SELF-CONTROL, SHARED COST, AND RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS; MAINTAIN SOUND PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURES TO PERPETUATE THE ORGANIZATION; PROVIDE HOUSING TO STUDENTS; SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING THE HOUSING BETWEEN MEMBERS AND STAFF.

COLLEGE HOUSES SUPPORTS ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR AUSTIN STUDENTS BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MEALS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, SUCH AS FREE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS, AND A DIVERSE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. COLLEGE HOUSES PROVIDES ITS MEMBERS WITH UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SOCIALLY AND BECOME LEADERS IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. ACHIEVING THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE WHILE REMAINING AFFORDABLE IS POSSIBLE THROUGH OUR DISTINCTIVE COOPERATIVE MODEL, WHICH LEVERAGES THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE BUYING AND FOUR HOURS PER WEEK OF MEMBER WORK EQUITY TO REDUCE COSTS. FOR OUR STUDENT MEMBERS, THE CO-OPS ARE A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS, A PLACE WHERE HOUSING IS FAIR AND DEMOCRATIC, A PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW, AND A SUPPORTIVE HOME AWAY FROM HOME.THROUGHOUT OVER FIVE DECADES OF SERVICE, WE HAVE STRIVEN TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL ARTICULATED BY OUR MISSION STATEMENT: "TO SERVE AS A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES PERSONAL GROWTH AND WELL-BEING. TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE STUDENT HOUSING THAT FOSTERS THE IDEALS OF COOPERATION, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE."THE ORIGINAL COLLEGE HOUSE WAS FORMED IN 1964 AS A STUDENT GOVERNMENT PROJECT, WITH HELP FROM A $5,000 SUSTAINING GRANT BY THE HOGG FOUNDATION. THE VISION BEHIND THE PROJECT WAS TO CREATE A HOUSING FACILITY FOR UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS (UT) STUDENTS THAT WAS AS VIBRANT AND STIMULATING AS THE DORMS OF A SMALL RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE. IN 1973, A HUD LOAN ALLOWED THE COLLEGE HOUSE TO PURCHASE ITS FIRST TWO BUILDINGS, AND THE INDEPENDENTLY REINCORPORATED "COLLEGE HOUSES" BEGAN USING A COOPERATIVE MODEL, WHICH CONTROLLED COSTS AND GAVE HOUSE MEMBERS DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT. SINCE THEN, COLLEGE HOUSES HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY, SURVIVED AUSTIN'S VOLATILE REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND NOW OWNS AND OPERATES FIVE BUILDINGS OF 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS NEAR THE UT CAMPUS.EACH SEMESTER, COLLEGE HOUSES PROVIDES HOUSING TO OVER 500 STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND OTHER AREA SCHOOLS. ALL OF OUR HOUSING IS AFFORDABLE BELOW 50% MFI, WITH SOME DOUBLE-OCCUPANCY ROOMS AFFORDABLE BELOW 30% MFI. ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AREA. AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, COLLEGE HOUSES STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY IN ITS MEMBERSHIP, AND TO PROVIDE ITS SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS WHO NEED THEM MOST.COLLEGE HOUSES CO-OPS ARE MORE THAN AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE, EAT AND STUDY - OUR HOUSES ARE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE A PLETHORA OF BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO HONE THEIR SKILLS AND BROADEN THEIR EXPERIENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME MEMBERS MAY START OFF ON A TEAM THAT COOKS HOUSE MEALS, AND PROGRESS TO THE ROLE OF HEAD COOK, WHERE THEY WILL MANAGE PEERS IN ONE OF OUR COMMERCIAL KITCHENS. FROM THERE THEY MIGHT RUN FOR ELECTION TO SERVE AS THEIR HOUSE KITCHEN MANAGER OR FOOD BUYER, WHERE THEY WILL MASTER PLANNING, FINANCIAL, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH HELP FROM STAFF. ANOTHER MEMBER MAY GET ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN HOUSE MEETINGS AND BECOME A MEETING CHAIR, WHERE THEY WILL LEARN PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO LEAD OTHERS TO MAKE COLLECTIVE DECISIONS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND GROW IN OUR CO-OP COMMUNITIES, AND WE FREQUENTLY HEAR FEEDBACK THAT MEMBERS GAIN SKILLS IN THE CO-OPS THAT SET THEM APART IN THEIR FUTURE CAREERS.COLLEGE HOUSES IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING ON OUR STRONG FOUNDATIONS AND LONG HISTORY IN ORDER TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE OUR SERVICES. AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BECOME A MORE POPULOUS AND EXPENSIVE CITY, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INNOVATE NEW PROGRAMS, AND WORK WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ACHIEVE OUR VISION FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY.