The Youth Cooperative Homeownership Initiative (YCHI) is a youth-designed model intended to expand access to stable housing, cooperative ownership, and long-term asset-building for Black, Indigenous, and youth of color. The initiative originated directly from insights gathered in FSG-led focus groups with local youth, which underscored several needs:
A broader, community-centered definition of wealth
Access to collective ownership models
Supports for entrepreneurship and long-term financial capability
Responses to historic and ongoing disparities in homeownership
Increased knowledge about ownership pathways in communities of color
YCHI was developed to operationalize these findings and provide a structured pathway for youth to explore, plan for, and ultimately participate in cooperative housing and enterprise development.
“My knowledge about cooperatives has greatly improved due to the great people involved in the program.”
–YCHI cohort member
YOUTH-LED BY DESIGN
Youth leadership is central to the initiative. A cohort of 12 youth and young adults of color from the Twin Cities completed a 10‑month earn‑and‑learn training program covering:
Cooperative ownership models
Governance structures and bylaw development
Real estate fundamentals
Financial literacy
Entrepreneurship and enterprise development
The cohort evaluated multiple cooperative housing structures and recommended beginning with a youth-led, lease-owned cooperative model. Under this model, a portion of resident payments would accumulate in a custodial account for future asset-building, such as a home, business, vehicle, or education. Participants also contributed governance recommendations and drafted preliminary cooperative bylaws.
THE VISION
PATHWAYS TO OWNERSHIP & COMMUNITY WEALTH
YCHI is a multi-year effort aimed at developing a youth-centered housing cooperative anchored in developing to ownership and community wealth as young people define it. Key components include:
Cooperative Housing
A youth-informed cooperative housing structure providing stable, affordable units and a pathway to asset-building for young people historically excluded from homeownership.
Multi-Use Development
Once a site is secured, youth will finalize design plans for a multi-use property that may include:
Residential cooperative units
Storefront or community enterprise spaces
A youth-centered community, training, or resource area
The goal is to support both housing stability and youth-led economic activity.
Enterprise & Skill Development
Youthprise and partners will continue providing training and technical assistance in:
Cooperative management
Financial capability
Real estate stewardship
Business and cooperative enterprise development
This support is intended to strengthen youth capacity to lead and sustain cooperative assets over time.
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
Increased housing stability for Black, Indigenous, and youth of color
Expanded financial literacy and asset-building opportunities
Youth leadership in cooperative governance and ownership
Opportunities for youth-led entrepreneurship
Community wealth retention in neighborhoods affected by displacement
A replicable model for other communities exploring cooperative ownership pathways
WHY IT MATTERS
Youth of color in Minneapolis face significant barriers to wealth-building and home-ownership.
According to Urban Institute data, only 16% of Black young adults in Minneapolis are mortgage-ready, compared to 34.5% of white young adults.
Rising housing costs and ongoing gentrification further contribute to instability and displacement.
YCHI offers an alternative pathway to stability and ownership that incorporates youth voice, cultural relevance, and community-centered design.
Young people, with support from Youthprise and Living Cities, are at the forefront of establishing a youth-centered cooperative. A cohort of young people began meeting at the beginning of 2024 and is driving the cooperative model’s design and development, including its physical design, amenities and services, governance, and all aspects of its development and operation. This will include developing the cooperative governance structure, selection process, expectations, and all other elements of the cooperative. The cohort is representative of the community of young people that the project seeks to serve.
Cameron Jackson
Cameron is an aspiring lawyer, businessman, and politician. Through YCHI, he has been able to surround himself with like-minded individuals who also have the goal of bringing more money and change into our communities. A perfect day for him would be to have made money, made friends, and made his family feel loved.
Devin Boeing
Devin is a social entrepreneur, content creator, and barber with a mission to create social change through innovative solutions. Being a part of YCHI has shown him the importance of people in our cities owning the properties and communities they live in, and how fundamental this is to the economic development of our neighborhoods.
Emmett A. DySart IV
A self-described RAD~ical and empath, Emmett aspires to break the generational curses of poverty amongst family and friends, and have the freedom to create systems of wealth that go beyond finances. YCHI is dear to him, because its non-traditional structure gives more agency to youth. A perfect day for him would be waking up on a tall mountain overlooking the sea, skydiving, chilling at the beach, and eating fresh coconuts and mangos.
Janae Peterse
An aspiring neuro or orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery, Janae is an ambitious visionary, who believes YCHI is integral in inciting change within our community. In her freetime, she enjoys relaxing at home with her girlfriend and daughter, as well as eating sushi and tiramisu.
Kat Floyd
Kat’s future vision is to be successful in real estate and own properties. YCHI is important to her because not only does it expand her knowledge of the ins and outs of home ownership, business, and renting/leasing, it is also an opportunity for her to help and bring happiness to her community. Three words that describe her are kind, joyful, and open-minded, and a perfect day would be a picnic by the beach with her girlfriend.
Kamiya Oliver
Peneal Tiruneh
Peneal is a futuristic, gentle, and witty individual whose ambition and compassion have led her to become a financial advisor. She seeks to be a community resource to transform families’ financial trajectory and foster financial freedom, and she believes YCHI is a special opportunity for youth to lay a new foundation and make their imprint. Her perfect day is one filled with sunshine, contagious laughter, and an unhurried passage of time, surrounded by the pure air of the trees, delicious food, and enveloped in the love of her family and friends.
Zindell Sandria-Mejia
Zindell is funny, smart, and calm, and he is working towards owning his own home and being independent. Being a part of YCHI is extremely important to him, because his goal is to build community wealth, and he believes people shouldn’t have to live paycheck to paycheck to have a home in our society. A perfect day for him would involve a good night’s sleep, no work, being able to eat what he wants, and relaxing in nature with his dog.
Qadiym Washington
Qadiym is an ambitious student with aspirations to be a world renowned artist. YCHI serves as the foundation for his vision of owning an estate and building homes and agricultural communities for his family and others in need. His perfect day would consist of spending time outside in nature with his loved ones.
Summer Vue
Summer is a multi-talented advocate who hopes to combine her love for the arts and dedication to social justice for those who are marginalized and underrepresented, shed light on real-life issues, and encourage vital conversations. YCHI is an insightful experience where she can acquire skills and knowledge that can one day be applied to empower different communities and industries. Her passions include textile arts and sustainable fashion production practices, and a perfect day would involve rest, control over her own schedule, and time to invest in herself and feel fulfilled.
