ESCHA 2026 in Heidelberg

The Heidelberg conference was so inspiring! We heard from many student housing cooperatives from all over, including an old independent one from the Netherlands, a young collective from Budapest, the Collegium Academicum in Heidelberg, and the Berkeley co-ops from California. All these co-ops are set up in their own particular way with their own challenges and opportunities, so it was quite interesting to hear so many different perspectives. A NASCO representative explained how the organization managed to save a run-down housing co-op, and student union representatives from all over Ireland were collaborating with ESCHA to workshop how student unions could help the student housing co-op movement. The housing crisis is one of, if not the biggest issue facing students, so student unions are incentivized to promote solutions. Ireland showed up in a big way as well, with maybe 1 in 4 participants from the island. Hope to see everyone again next year, and some new faces too!