In the heart of Queanbeyan, NSW, Karabar Housing Cooperative (KHC) has been quietly but powerfully transforming lives through the co-operative housing model since 1986. Established by a group of community-minded citizens who believed in housing as a human right, KHC has grown from an initial build of 6 units on church land into a respected provider of 21 affordable rental houses and units for people in housing stress.
Operating under the principles of co-operation, mutual support and good governance, KHC offers more than just shelter. It fosters connection, dignity and empowerment. Residents aren’t just tenants – they’re members. They have a voice in decisions, and some have taken on leadership roles within the co-op, building confidence and new skills along the way.
Over the years, our Co-operative has weathered policy shifts, funding changes and growing demand for affordable housing – but we continue to grow. KHC now manages over 30 properties and is actively involved in regional advocacy through the Queanbeyan Housing Action Collective. It has also formed partnerships with local organisations like St Benedict’s Community Centre and Braidwood Life Centre to provide crisis support, advocacy and pathways out of homelessness.
Early this year KHC received great news: receipt of a grant under the federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) to develop 13 single-bedroom cottages on Crown Land – purpose-built transitional homes for women over 55, one of the fastest-growing groups at risk of homelessness. This project will deliver safety, affordability and dignity for older women facing housing insecurity, and stands as a testament to what cooperative housing models can achieve when backed by public investment.
KHC is also progressing the possibility of a Googong development which will deliver up to 31 new affordable rental homes for key and essential workers and their families. Former Board Chair and founder David Horton, awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022, described the co-op as “an enduring example of what communities can achieve when people work together with a shared purpose.”
In this International Year of Cooperatives, Karabar Housing Cooperative proudly represents what’s possible for a co-op model to achieve: a locally governed, people-first approach to affordable rental housing that delivers long-lasting results.
There’s nothing more stabilising than knowing your home is secure and your community is behind you. KHC gave us that – and so much more.
-Long-term tenant said
