An Evaluation of Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives in the United States
Limited equity cooperatives (LECs) are evaluated within the following framework: 1) the effect of resident participation on operating costs, 2) the disutility of time and effort that members devote to co-op activities, 3) the intangible benefits of co-op living, 4) the degree of subsidization, and 5) the financial viability of LECs. As a result of information gathered from interviews of field practitioners and academic experts, the authors' personal experiences, and a review of the literature, LECs are seen as an effective way of providing home-ownership opportunities for low-income families the United States.