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NICKEL CITY HOUSING CORP
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 161607450 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE L20 · Housing & Shelter · Small ($100K-$1M) · nickelcitycoop.org
revenue
$143K
expenses
$170K
net assets
$-9K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING LOW-RENT HOUSING, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. TO ENGAGE IN A CONTINUOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING, AND TO FURTHER THE PRINCIPLES OF TOLERANCE AND COOPERATION THROUGH MUTUAL SELF-HELP LIVING AT MINIMAL COST. THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS LED BY THE CORPORATION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nickel City Housing Cooperative provides affordable, cooperative housing in Buffalo, NY, operating two shared houses where residents collectively own and manage their living spaces. The organization emphasizes consensus-based decision-making, mutual self-help, and community building. It promotes inclusivity and offers educational programming on cooperative living and anti-discrimination.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Cooperative Housing Program
Operates two shared houses in Buffalo where members collectively manage governance, chores, and finances through consensus-based decision-making and regular house meetings.
Educational Workshops
Free, public workshops on cooperative living, anti-discrimination, and consensus decision-making, aligned with the organization’s mission to promote tolerance and mutual self-help.
Vibes Meetings
Bi-weekly gatherings for members to discuss interpersonal dynamics, resolve conflicts, and share feelings using non-violent communication principles.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
    • Conduct educational and community-building programming
      Hosts monthly potlucks, bi-weekly meetings on emotional well-being and conflict resolution using non-violent communication, and ongoing workshops on prejudice and discrimination to strengthen community cohesion and promote inclusive living.
  • Homeowners Association Management 1 activity
    • Facilitate resident self-management and shared responsibilities
      Residents collectively manage housing operations through member-led work days, shared utility arrangements, bulk food purchasing, and financial contributions that cover mortgages and maintenance, promoting self-help living and cooperative stewardship of properties.
  • Affordable Housing Development and Management 1 activity
    • Provide low-income, non-discriminatory housing through cooperative ownership model
      Operates affordable housing units in Buffalo, NY, with rents ranging from $289 to $537 per month, acquired and renovated from vacant properties, and made available to individuals without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, or other protected statuses.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Administer membership and residency onboarding process
      Manages a membership application process requiring prospective residents to attend events and visit housing properties before joining, ensuring alignment with cooperative values and community integration.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$143K
Contributions & grants$1640%
Program service revenue$143K100%
Investment income$190%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$170K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$46K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$-9K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.7%
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • NASCO Properties Partner — Leases cooperative housing properties to Nickel City Housing Cooperative.
  • North American Students of Cooperation Government — Acts as the legal owner of the property and provides financial and organizational support to Nickel City Housing Cooperative as part of a larger network of cooperatives.
  • North American Students of Cooperation Network — Member organization within a national network of student housing cooperatives.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Consensus-Based Cooperative Governance
    methodology: consensus_governance
    By operating housing through collective ownership and consensus-based decision-making, we produce equitable community control and eliminate landlord-tenant hierarchies, because shared power fosters accountability, inclusion, and long-term stability.
  • Nonviolent Communication for Conflict Resolution
    methodology: nonviolent_communication
    By applying nonviolent communication practices, we maintain community harmony and resolve interpersonal conflicts constructively, because empathetic dialogue reduces defensiveness and supports collaborative problem-solving in shared living environments.
  • Relationship-Driven Membership and Community Cohesion
    methodology: relationship-based selection
    By involving all current members in evaluating prospective residents through personal interaction and shared decision-making, we produce stronger community bonds and compatibility, because mutual trust and transparency are foundational to sustainable cooperative living.