Alternative Housing Research Articles

Design of the house of dream and substantiation of the probability of its erection

Providing the population with affordable and high-quality housing that corresponds to the principles of the modern world policy of sustainable development is an important strategic social task that is relevant forUkraine. For successful solution of this task it is necessary to introduce into mass construction the energy-efficient economically substantiated techniques of the use of ecological materials in the design of low-rise residential buildings. For the housing construction ofUkrainein the conditions of the national ecological, economic and social crisis it is a very urgent issue of reducing the use of energy resources in the operation of housing, the development of new environmental energy-efficient technologies of new construction, the creation of alternative and quality affordable housing. Today solar energy is one of the most promising areas in the field of alternative energy. Houses of zero consumption are practical and they are already moving from the future to the present. Everything depends on the owner's desire to live in harmony with nature, and then the designers, builders and installers will do everything to make the building known as zero consumption. In modern design engineering systems, instead of traditional radiators, more energy-efficient design solutions are increasingly used. One of these is the use of a warm floor for the heating of low-rise buildings. The heating with warm floors has a lot of advantages compared with other types of heating: saving free space, saving resources, lack of drafts, a healthy climate in the house. In addition, water systems are integrated into heating, which uses the alternative sources of energy: heat pumps, solar panels, condensing boilers. One of the components of this work is the design of the house and calculations of cost-effectiveness.

Three phases of Danish cohousing: tenure and the development of an alternative housing form

Broadly understood as a housing form that combines individual dwellings with substantial common facilities and activities aimed at everyday living, Danish cohousing communities (bofællesskaber) are often seen as pioneering and comparatively successful. Yet, in spite of frequently being mentioned or addressed as case studies in the growing literature on cohousing and, more generally, alternative forms of housing, Danish cohousing experiences have not been systematically analysed since the 1980s. Emphasizing broader trends and evolving societal contexts, this article investigates the development of Danish cohousing over the past five decades. Through this historical analysis, the article also draws attention to the largely neglected issue of tenure structures in the evolution of cohousing. The multifaceted phenomenon of cohousing cannot and should not be reduced to issues of tenure. But if cohousing is to spread and contribute affordable alternatives to mainstream housing, tenure structures should be a key concern.

An Investigation of Associations Between Management and Feather Damage in Canadian Laying Hens Housed in Furnished Cages.

Simple SummaryFeather damage due to feather pecking behaviour remains a serious welfare concern in flocks of egg-laying hens housed in large groups. A better understanding of the farm factors that contribute to feather damage is needed, especially as Canadian egg farming transitions away from conventional cage housing systems and into alternative, larger group systems. This study aimed to explore bird, housing, and management associations with feather damage in Canadian laying hens housed in furnished cage systems. Twenty-six laying hen farms housing birds in furnished cages were surveyed across the country, along with the scoring of feather condition of 50 hens from each flock. Factors found to have an influence on greater feather damage seen in flocks included increasing age, having all brown-feathered hens, the practice of midnight feeding, and hens not having access to a scratching area or additional foraging material. These results support existing evidence that feather damage is the result of multiple factors, with genetics and foraging opportunity being some of the most important. Further research is needed to test the effectiveness of related intervention strategies.Feather pecking is a continuous welfare challenge in the housing of egg-laying hens. Canada is currently making the transition from conventional cages to alternative housing systems. However, feather damage (FD) among laying hens due to feather pecking remains a welfare concern. An explorative approach was taken to assess bird, housing, and management associations with FD in Canadian laying hens housed in alternative systems. A questionnaire focused on housing and management practices was administered to 122 laying farms across Canada in autumn of 2017 (response rate of 52.5%), yielding information on a subset of 26 flocks housed in furnished cages. Additionally, a three-point feather cover scoring system was developed to estimate the prevalence of FD. Farmers assessed FD by sampling 50 birds per flock. Linear regression modeling was applied to explain FD as a function of 6 variables (out of an available 54). Of the 6 modeled variables, “increased age”, “brown feather colour”, “midnight feeding”, and “no scratch area” were associated with higher levels of FD at farm level (R2 = 0.77). The results indicated that FD resulting from feather pecking is a multifactorial problem, and supported existing evidence that FD increases as birds age. These results also suggested that “feather colour”, “midnight feeding”, and “access to (or lack of) a scratch area or additional substrate” play a role in FD prevalence in furnished cages.

A review of recent research outcomes on the housing of farmed domestic rabbits: reproducing does

<p>The housing of farmed animals is increasingly scrutinised by society and thereby subject to a change towards more animal-friendly systems. For rabbits, also kept as pets, there are no EC regulations regarding their housing under farming conditions. In many countries, studies have been carried out to improve their welfare and health under current and alternative housing systems. This paper reviews and integrates the research efforts made since the EFSA report in 2005 on reproducing rabbit does and provides some conclusions, where possible, with special emphasis on animal welfare according to the principles stated by the Welfare Quality® project, i.e. good housing, good health and appropriate behaviour. The use of an elevated platform provides greater opportunities for does and their kits to move, jumping up and down. Management and housing systems (especially flooring) must guarantee good hygienic conditions (all-in, all-out) and separation of the rabbits from their excreta for proper resting places, hygiene and health. Plastic floors and footrests and environmental enrichments (e.g. gnawing material) are also recommended. Continuous group housing systems for reproducing females have been definitively proven to challenge animal welfare by increased aggression and injuries among does and to kits. Part-time group housing systems have proven to have potential, but cannot yet be recommended in farms until major problems of aggression and injuries among animals are solved.</p>

Perception of Malay homeowners in Selangor towards housing debt and alternative housing tenure

Abstrak Keberhutangan membawa stigma, konotasi dan implikasi yang tidak baik dalam kalangan masyarakat. Namun begitu, pendapat bahawa sesetengah hutang merupakan ‘hutang baik’, contohnya hutang perumahan kerana rumah dikira satu keperluan asas. Pemilikan rumah secara berhutang mengikat pemilik rumah dalam tempoh hutang yang panjang dan amaun hutang yang tinggi. Oleh itu, risiko kewangan peminjam adalah signifikan, terutama ketika kadar keberhutangan dan delinkuensi dilaporkan berleluasa dalam kalangan isi rumah di Malaysia. Paradoks hutang sebagai satu tegahan dalam Islam dan pada masa yang sama satu ‘keperluan’ kehidupan perlu dibincangkan dalam konteks pemilik rumah Melayu bandar yang sebenarnya mempunyai pilihan sama ada membeli (berhutang) atau menyewa/menyertai skim pemegangan alternatif (tidak berhutang). Kajian ini mendedahkan persepsi pemilik rumah Melayu di Selangor berkenaan hutang perumahan dan pemegangan alternatif. Data kuantitatif diperolehi daripada kajian soal selidik terhadap 480 orang pemilik rumah di Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam dan Klang. Kebanyakan responden melihat hutang perumahan sebagai ‘hutang baik’ dan tidak menganggap hutang perumahan sebagai suatu bebanan. Kajian turut menunjukkan kekhuatiran mereka terhadap tanggungan risiko kewangan. Walau bagaimanapun, sewaan dan pemegangan alternatif masih tidak digemari majoriti responden menunjukkan indikasi bahawa paradigma memiliki masih utuh dalam kalangan mereka. Sekiranya trend kenaikan harga rumah berterusan pada masa hadapan, dapatan kajian menunjukkan ketidakmampanan sistem pemilikan rumah sekarang yang terlalu bergantung kepada hutang. Kata kunci : gadai janji, keberhutangan, Melayu bandar, pemilikan rumah, pemegangan alternatif, penyewaan Perception of Malay homeowners in Selangor towards housing debt and alternative housing tenure Abstract Indebtedness carries negative stigma, connotation and implication within the society, yet there is an opinion that certain debts are ‘good debts’ and are necessary. House purchase debt is often regarded as a good debt because housing is a basic necessity. Home ownership by debt which is known as mortgaged home ownership will bind the home owner in debt for a long term and in a large amount. Due to the significant term and amount, the financial risk on the borrower is high especially when the rates of indebtedness and delinquency are reported to be prevalent among Malaysian households. The paradox of debt as a prohibition in Islam and simultaneously a life ‘necessity’ should be discussed in the context of urban Malay homeowners who actually have a choice either to purchase (indebted) or rent/join an alternative tenure scheme (non-indebted). This study reveals the attitude of Malay homeowners in Selangor regarding housing debt and alternative tenure. Quantitative data were obtained from a questionnaire survey on 480 homeowners in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang. Most respondents did not regard housing loan as a burden yet showed concern about the financial risk burden. It was also found that renting and alternative tenure was still less favoured by the majority of respondents, an indication of the prevalence of the ownership paradigm among the respondents. If the current trend of house price increase persists in the future, the results of this study indicates a non-sustainability of the current home ownership system that is too dependent on debt. Keywords : mortgage, indebtedness, urban Malays, home ownership, alternative tenure, renting

Rabbit Breeding and Welfare - Emphasis on Housing Conditions

In order to understand the real need for more space or collective cages in the rabbit breeding is necessary to establish parameters to measure what is good or bad for the animals and not for the humans. In nature, rabbits spend most of their time in shelters or the search for feed. This behavior does not reproduce in captivity, because, the animals have restricted space. However, the questions are: Would the animals like more space even having feed always available? Would the animals even being protected would like to live in groups? In this sense, the most studies show that the group rearing in cages – for growing rabbits up 84 days – is the best choice to satisfy rabbit social behavior. In reproducing animals, alternative housing systems, that permit does to separate themselves from their litters, should be developed. So far the individual cages seem to be the most suitable for the does.

Compost bedded-pack barn as an alternative housing system for dairy cattle in Italy: effects on animal health and welfare and milk and milk product quality

We evaluated the effects of a compost bedded-pack barn as an alternative housing system for dairy cattle in Italy. Twenty-two Fleckvieh dairy cows were randomly allocated to two housing systems: (1) a conventional freestall barn (FB) and (2) a compost bedded-pack barn (CB). Clinical data and behavioural measurements were collected. Milk quality parameters and cheese characteristics were also evaluated. Scores for hind limb cleanliness and locomotion were better in the CB-housed than in the FB-housed cows (p < .01). The incidence of standing was higher (p < .01), while that of lying in head-up position and the expression of agonistic interaction were lower (p < .001) in the CB-housed animals. An avoidance distance of 50 cm was more frequent, whereas a distance of more than 100 cm was less frequent among the CB-housed animals (p < .001). Milk fat content was greater and somatic cell count was lower, as were total bacterial count (TBC) and coliforms in cheese made from milk from the CB-housed cows (p < .05). Descriptive comparisons between CB and FB bedding materials revealed promising results for salinity, fulvic + humic acid content, ammonia concentration, and TBC, but also issues related to bacterial levels, temperature, and nutrient composition of CB bedding material. Our results suggest that cow health and welfare, as well as milk and milk product quality, may benefit from CB housing, supporting its potential as a promising alternative loose-housing system for dairy cattle in Italy.HighlightsHousing systems and management practices exert a remarkable influence on dairy cattle welfare, making the choice of environment extremely important.Cow health and welfare, as well as milk and milk product quality, may benefit from compost bedded-pack housing system.Issues related to bacterial levels, temperature, and nutrient composition of bedding material may be encountered in compost bedded-pack housing system.

Evaluation of nesting behavior of individual laying hens in an enriched colony housing by using RFID technology

The US egg industry is progressively adopting alternative housing systems for laying hens. Provision of nesting places accommodates natural behaviors and may improve the welfare of the laying hen. However, some fundamental questions remain about nesting behaviors of hens under different housing conditions, which would impact system design and management. For instance, how long does a hen use nest per day for egg laying or nest exploration? How many hens nest simultaneously? In such schemes, information on hens’ behavioral and production responses of hens remains relatively sparse. The primary objective of this work was to demonstrate that RFID technology can be used to continuously quantify dynamic nesting behaviors of individual laying hens in a 60-hen enriched colony housing (ECH). Results show that hens spent on average 63.7±1.4 min (mean±SE) in the nest box and made 23.4±0.7 nest visits during a 16 h daily light period. Time spent in and visits to the nest box during the 6 h laying period accounted for 56% and 45% of the light-period value, respectively. Maximum nest occupancy was 29.0%±0.4%. Three distinct phases of egg production in nest boxes were observed: initial (1.5 h), peak (3.2 h, egg laying rate of 0.24±0.01 eggs/min), and late (1.3 h). The majority (95.1%±0.6%) of the daily eggs were laid in the nest box. Considerable variations in nesting behavior among individual hens and day-to-day variations for a given hen were observed. The RFID system will enable researchers to examine the impacts of resource allocations on nesting behaviors of laying hens in alternative hen housing. Keywords: animal welfare, egg production, RFID, alternative hen housing, individual behaviors DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20191206.5129 Citation: Oliveira J L, Xin H W, Wang K L, Zhao Y. Evaluation of nesting behavior of individual laying hens in an enriched colony housing by using RFID technology. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(6): 7–15.

Mitigating Particulate Matter Generation in a Commercial Cage-Free Hen House

Abstract. Compared to conventional cage production systems, cage-free (CF) hen housing offers hens more space and opportunities to exercise their natural behaviors (e.g., perching, dust bathing, and foraging). However, CF housing poses a number of inherent environmental challenges, among which are high levels of particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3). Spraying water on CF hen house litter (e.g., 125 mL m-2 per cm of litter depth) has been shown to mitigate generation of PM by 60% to 70% in our previous lab-scale tests. The objectives of this study were to verify the lab-scale findings of PM reduction in a commercial CF hen house in central Iowa and to evaluate the indoor air quality (e.g., PM and NH3 concentrations) and litter moisture content as affected by water spray. The commercial CF house had a nominal capacity of 50,000 laying hens and measured 154 m × 21.3 m × 3.0 m (L × W × H). A water sprinkling system was installed in half of the hen house in the length direction (treatment section), while the other half of the hen house served as the control. For each of the three trials conducted during the winter of 2017-2018, spray dosage (125 mL H2O m-2 per cm of litter depth) was set according to the initial litter depth before spraying. Results show that PM concentration was reduced by 37% to 51% in the treatment section of the CF hen house. The lower reduction efficiency in the field experiment than in the lab-scale tests was partially attributed to the fact that water spray in the commercial hen house was applied only to the open litter area, and not the litter area under the aviary system, due to limited space. Adjusting the spray dosage according to litter depth is necessary for maintaining an appreciable reduction efficiency. Litter moisture content in the treatment section was 9% to 14% higher than in the control section (15.6% vs. 14% in trial 1, 14.6% vs. 12.2% in trial 2, and 17.7% vs. 14.9% in trial 3), but NH3 concentrations in the treatment and control sections were similar during the field experiment. Keywords: Air quality, Alternative hen housing, Dust, Litter moisture content.

REAGAN’S AUSTERITY BUREAUCRATS

AbstractIn 1982, President Ronald Reagan’s administration initiated a dramatic policy shift towards a new housing voucher program, which simultaneously resulted in a near-halt in public and project-based assisted housing funding. When analyzing this historic policy shift, many affordable housing scholars have overemphasized race-absent narratives about fiscal austerity to explain the Reagan administration’s policy rejection of public housing and embrace of housing vouchers. To present a more comprehensive and intersectional history of the Reagan administration’s transition to housing vouchers, I employ an alternative methodological lens that I call Black feminist critical policy studies. This paper traces how the Office of Management and Budget and Housing and Urban Development officials relied on obscured racial and gender bias in their debate informing Reagan's alternative housing voucher program. By revealing the social bias endemic in the Reagan administration’s housing debate, this article illustrates that housing vouchers were not simply a neutral, cost-efficient policy tool but helped ensure low-income black mothers’ continued subjection to anti-welfare backlash, housing discrimination, and paternal supervision.

Tiny houses and planning regulation for housing alternatives: the context of regional Victoria

ABSTRACTThe emergence of ‘Tiny Houses’ as a dwelling and cultural phenomenon reveals significant frictions with regulatory systems orientated towards orthodox housing models. In this regard the tiny house movement shares a genealogy with traditions of self-build housing and more recent sustainable and affordable housing alternatives. In each instance, regulatory frameworks have created points of resistance, including a planning system that differentiates between various categories of permanent and temporary accommodation. In regional areas such tensions are apparent in various forms; fluidity between temporary and permanent residential uses, unregulated self-building and the use of non-residential structures for housing. We position Tiny Houses as a category of these conflicts, arguing that the regulatory intent of restricting dwellings has a range of purposes in Victorian planning law, including the protection of farmland, the regulation of wastewater and the maintenance of housing standards. This paper will utilise Victorian planning decisions and definitions to consider the way in which non-conforming housing models have been addressed in rural settings and credibility given to claims of sustainability and innovation in housing provision within the broader decision-making framework. The results suggest that varied housing is enabled by the planning system, however category issues remain regarding mobility, permanence and impact.

Micro-living: why occupants choose to live in very small dwellings?

ABSTRACTWith persistent housing affordability issues in many parts of Australia, planners, designers and community members have begun to contemplate alternative housing options. One such option is micro-living, where occupants reside in dwellings that are significantly smaller than conventionally sized housing types. This paper explores the experience of occupants who have chosen to live in small, single-room and self-contained apartments sized between 24.5 and 28 m2 in Sydney. Using the results of a questionnaire survey and a series of interviews, the research reveals why occupants chose this housing type. The article highlights the trade-offs occupants make in their housing decision process and that affordability benefits of choosing smaller dwellings are not always guaranteed. This research has implications for minimum size requirements for emerging types of micro-living options such as tiny houses and micro-apartments.

Can tiny houses on wheels comply with Australian housing provisions?

ABSTRACTTiny houses on wheels (THOW) are gaining significant interest and momentum in Australia, as they offer alternative housing to the traditional housing model. A significant challenge for the acceptance of THOW relates to ambiguity on how they should be treated under regulations. The construction of THOW straddle both caravan regulations and housing regulations, which can raise significant debate in the tiny house sector, and a review of the National Construction Code Volume 2, Housing Provisions reviews how a THOW could be constructed to include the key elements of the Housing Provisions, or where dispensation maybe sought.

Consumer perceptions of egg-laying hen housing systems.

The egg industry has transitioned, or is in the process of transitioning, from conventional cages to alternative hen housing systems in response to legal changes in many states across the United States (US). However, consumers find it is increasingly difficult to understand the details behind those labels and specific attributes conveyed. There are multiple hen housing options with a wide range of costs and impacts on hens, workers, and the environment. This research furthers the understanding of US public perceptions and attitudes related to hen housing systems and corresponding animal welfare, worker, economic, and environmental effects. Results reveal that the US public perceives cage-free aviaries as achieving essentially the same positive impact on hen health and stress, hen behavior, and environmental impact as free-range systems when compared to conventional cage systems. The information provided can assist industry, marketing, and policy decisions with respect to hen housing.

Towards Critical Intersections of Ageing, Housing and Well-Being

ABSTRACTAcross the life course, far-reaching socio-demographic and health related transformations are influencing the meaning of home in the UK. The collection presented in this Special Issue of Home Futures critically interjects into the ‘where and when’ of dwelling during the process of ageing with key concepts explored within this introductory article. It argues that, change is seen through the disruption of conventional ideas of ageing ‘at home’, traditional understandings of ‘the older person’ and its corollary social imaginaries, alongside the relationship between care practices and homes. Many of these shifts are being addressed through a range of emerging housing (and collaborative) alternatives. The article concludes by considering how discussions in this special issue disclose the home, from a range of social and material angles, as a diverse process and experience of meaning making over time, deeply entangled with health and well-being, disrupting traditional understandings of ‘place making’ in later life.

Effect of Alternative Housing System and Hen Genotype on Egg Quality Characteristics

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of type of alternative housing system and layer genotype on the quality of table eggs. The investigated eggs came from native Greenleg Partridge hens (Z-11) and Rhode Island Red hens (R-11) covered by the gene-pool protection program, as well as from Hy-line Brown commercial hens from litter barn (LS), free range (FR), and organic systems (OS). Eggs for the study were collected from the hens at 56 wk of age. Egg quality assessment was based on the following values egg traits: weight, shape index, yolk, albumen, and shell percentage in the whole egg; eggshell traits: color intensity, weight, thickness, density, breaking strength, physical features of egg content: albumen height, value of Haugh units, yolk color; presence of meat/ blood spots and cholesterol, higher fatty acids, vitamin A and E in egg yolks. In the rearing systems under study, eggs with the highest weight were laid by commercial hens, and the type of alternative rearing system had no significant effect on this trait. Shell colour intensity depends on the breed of hen, whereas the rearing system has no significant effect on this trait. Hen genotype and housing system had an effect on egg shell weight, thickness, and density. The housing system influences the content of MUFA, PUFA, PUFAn-6 and PUFAn-3 as well as PUFA 6/3 in egg yolks. No effect of the housing system on egg yolk cholesterol content was observed.

On-Farm Evaluation of an Automatic Enrichment Device with Maize Silage for Laying Hens

ABSTRACTChallenges in alternative housing for laying hens are barren functional areas such as winter gardens and the occurrence of behavioral disorders. Environmental enrichment is a measure to deal with these problems. Therefore, an enrichment device offering maize silage automatically was tested in two winter gardens on-farm. The use of the winter gardens and the times individual hens stayed there and occupied themselves with the maize silage were determined in a temporary preference test. The proportion of residing hens was significantly larger in the enriched winter garden. The mean time individual hens stayed in the enriched winter garden ranged from 02:16 ± 02:22 (mm:ss) to 03:17 ± 02:27, whereas the time ranged from 00:18 ± 00:32 to 00:59 ± 01:19 in the other winter garden (p < .05). Once the enrichment device ran in both winter gardens, no differences were found between the observed parameters. On average, the hens occupied themselves with the enrichment material for 03:50 ± 02:12 to 05:01 ± 03:06. Thus, based on its use and acceptance by the laying hens, the automatic device provided adequate environmental enrichment.

A Low-cost Housing Solution: Earth Block Catenary Vaults

The United Nations currently estimate that 860 million people live in slums, which is 12% of the world's population. The issue is usually focussed on a lack of funds, with individuals and governments. Thus, a need to develop low-cost housing alternatives is apparent, to make housing more affordable to the poor. The project described in this paper is the design of a low-cost home, that incorporates sustainable materials and shell vaults. The materials used to construct the home are cement stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), and blocks constructed of recycled building rubble. The walls of the home are dry-stacked (no mortar), to reduce material cost and enable rapid construction. The roof of the structure comprises two catenary shaped arches, which eliminate the need of roofing materials and doubles the living space. The design of the arches is given in detail, using a segmental equilibrium method of analysis. The segmental equilibrium method predicts the thrust-line for different combinations of loads, which are kept within the middle third of the vault walls. Various other aspects of the design are also described, such as the foundations, floor slab and the support system at the base of the arch.

Utilization of Mobile Integrated Health Providers During a Flood Disaster in South Carolina (USA).

As health care systems in the United States have become pressured to provide greater value, they have embraced the adoption of innovative population health solutions. One of these initiatives utilizes prehospital personnel in the community as an extension of the traditional health care system. These programs have been labeled as Community Paramedicine (CP) and Mobile Integrated Health (MIH). While variation exists amongst these programs, generally efforts are targeted at individuals with high rates of health care utilization. By assisting with chronic disease management and addressing the social determinants of health care, these programs have been effective in decreasing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) utilization, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions for enrolled patients.The actual training, roles, and structure of these programs vary according to state oversight and community needs, and while numerous reports describe the novel role these teams play in population health, their utilization during a disaster response has not been previously described. This report describes a major flooding event in October 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina (USA). While typical disaster mitigation and response efforts were employed, it became clear during the response that the MIH providers were well-equipped to assist with unique patient and public health needs. Given their already well-established connections with various community health providers and social assistance resources, the MIH team was able to reconnect patients with lost medications and durable medical equipment, connect patients with alternative housing options, and arrange access to outpatient resources for management of chronic illness.Mobile integrated health teams are a potentially effective resource in a disaster response, given their connections with a variety of community resources along with a unique combination of training in both disease management and social determinants of health. As roles for these providers are more clearly defined and training curricula become more developed, there appears to be a unique role for these providers in mitigating morbidity and decreasing costs in the post-disaster response. Training in basic disaster response needs should be incorporated into the curricula and community disaster planning should identify how these providers may be able to benefit their local communities.Gainey CE, Brown HA, Gerard WC. Utilization of mobile integrated health providers during a flood disaster in South Carolina (USA). Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(4):432-435.

Bricolage in Collaborative Housing in Finland: Combining Resources for Alternative Housing Solutions

ABSTRACT Finnish collaborative housing projects are in an experimental stage. These projects are trying to push the conventional practices of housing production into a new shape in order to realize their schemes in the housing market dominated by large construction companies. This paper aims to shed light on the resident groups’ resources in a context where resident-driven projects are rare. We apply the concept of bricolage to analyse three collaborative housing projects in Finland. Our analysis highlights that the residents refused to enact limitations imposed by the dominant housing market and examines how this was made possible. The cases we studied were successful for two interconnected reasons: (1) because of the capabilities of the residents; and (2) the professional allies they had. We argue that analyses framed by bricolage can help better understand the local contexts with their real and presumed constraints, and offer a possibility for international comparison of collaborative housing.