We are a group of people with deep connections to La Villita
About
OUR STORY
La Villita Housing Cooperative (LVHC) formed in January 2023 with the goal of acquiring buildings in Little Village that would be managed cooperatively by their residents.
Three of the founding members of LVHC connected through the Pilsen Housing Cooperative (PiHCO). They had separately reached out to learn about PiHCO’s multi-site cooperative model in the neighboring community of Pilsen, and they first met each other at a PiHCO fundraiser. They discussed the accelerating gentrification of the neighborhood due to developer real estate purchases and rent increases, and the need for more affordable housing that is accessible for people with disabilities. They decided to explore forming a cooperative in Little Village because they wanted to strengthen our community by getting housing back into the hands of those who live here—without the obstacles of individual home ownership. The team expanded to include community members who were also concerned about gentrification, including one person who was organizing her neighbors to buy their building.
Our vision is to create stable housing options for those with strong ties to Little Village who are most negatively impacted by gentrification and displacement, specifically low- to moderate- income households and people with disabilities. We also aim to promote democracy in housing and support models of shared ownership in the community.
Our Principles
We intentionally work against discrimination based on race, gender, immigration status, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, and source of income. We know that diversity is our strength, and we strive to nurture a genuine, uplifting community. Anti-racism is a core principle that guides our decisions and our commitment to equity.
Our core values include:
- Anti-racism
- Community building
- Democracy
- Equality
- Equity
- Honesty
- Mutual accountability
- Mutual aid
- Mutual respect
- Self-help
- Solidarity