Newsletter Spring - Summer 2025
Who we are
Atlantic Sea Change Co-operative Housing Ltd. (ASCCH) is a Nova Scotia registered non-profit housing co-operative dedicated to the development of mixed income housing on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Our members are committed to an inclusive community that is inter-generational and supports a focus on older adults. The Sea Change membership has embraced a co-op housing model – and the principles of intentional communities that foster collaboration in its design and development, and ongoing operations and governance.
Intentional Communities
Intentional communities foster a model of collaborative housing that attempts to overcome the alienation of modern housing, where few people know their neighbours and there is little sense of community. The future residents are integral to the design and development of the community, the daily operations and governance. Intentional communities combine the autonomy of compact self-contained private dwellings with the benefits of shared, spacious community amenities that typically include a large dining room, kitchen, recreation spaces, meeting rooms, children’s play spaces, guest rooms, workshops and gardens. An intentional community tends to offer environmentally sensitive design with a pedestrian orientation and have documented lower vehicle use than conventional neighbourhoods.
Co-operative Housing
Co-operative Housing is a non-profit housing development that has a mix of people with different ages, backgrounds, incomes and needs. Our co-operative will support a membership and community that values and respects relationships, and collaboration with their neighbours, are proud of their properties, and maintains a safe place to call home.
Co-operative Housing also gives members (residents) a say in how the housing co-op functions, it is democratically functioning, with members voting for the board of directors to oversee governance of the co-op. The goal is always to achieve financial stability, with a lens on sustainability and community inclusion. If you reside in the co-op, you are part of the membership that owns the co-op.
Sea Changers in motion this past year!
In early 2024, Atlantic Sea Change Co-operative Housing received a Capacity Building Grant from the NS Community Housing Growth Fund which has allowed our membership to engage a housing consultant, who has guided us through organizational capacity building
on co-op governance and policy development. visioning of co-op intentional community housing model, and core planning of our community vision.
Funding came at the critical time when Sea Change learned that pursuing the Knickle Rd property in Lunenburg was not viable and allowed for us to reimagine and reset our direction.
Much has been accomplished by the Sea Change membership over the last 9 months:
- One on one member consultations occurred with our housing consultant and a series of 4 half day visioning sessions focused on:
Sea Change has developed key committees: Governance and Policy Committee, which has developed core board, governance, and committee policies. Community Engagement and Communications Committee, focused on communicating the exciting work Sea Change has undertaken over the last year.
Sea Change has actively engaged municipalities, other co-ops and housing organizations on potential opportunities to partner/collaborate on housing development.
How can you become a Sea Changer?
Sea Change envisions a busy year ahead. This will see us continuing our work on building internal capacities on governance and our housing model, exploring partnership opportunities on accessing land and housing development, building the business case for project sustainability, and engaging broader community input and participation.
If you are interested to know more about our vision for a co-op intentional community on the South Shore or would like to become engaged and support our work, there are opportunities to get involved:
- Board Member positions-seeking prior governance and finance experience.
- Committee member work, does not require experience – we will offer training.
- Communications and social media.
- Attend a Sea Change community meeting to learn more. Sea Change wants to hear from you!!