About Vestbredden
Another way of living: Hausmannsgate 40, H40, Vestbredden, Bo- og Arbeidskollektivet Vestbredden – A house w
ith several names – was squatted in september 1999.You can read about some of the requirements and the principles that Vestbredden are working out of below.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Couchnomad, homeless, artist or an unlivable housing condition.
“Project Vestbredden” are adressing persons that of different reasons is in a pressed living situation and don‘t have economical means to get sorted on the ordinary housing market. The project is an offer to individuals that wants to improve their own as well as others living condition through own activity.
Poor economy, under paid, artist or unemployed:
“Project Vestbredden” aims to reach people with a generally weak economy. It could be necessary because of unemployment or without regular employment, being underpaid, starving artist or of other reasons having limited access to economic assets.
Community involvement and iidealistic interests:
Since “Project Vestbredden” are a idelistic initiative it is expected that residents supports the solidaric and non-commercial principles. It should also be a requirement that eventual future residents wishes to get involved in the local community through a idealistic motive.
Long term living relation:
It is an benefit that potential residents wishes to have a long term living relation. This will create a stable collective with individuals with long term interests in the local area.
BASIC PRINCIPLES:
Local democracy and consensus.Every resident above 16 years old are automatically members of the board according to our statutes. This is done to ensure biggest possible agreement about each given case, with full disclosure and participation in the decision process. This again ensures that decisions are respected afterwards. A board like this should also create a understanding of responseability and democratic principles.
Collective responseability and dugnad:
Different responseabilites within the co-op should be rotating between the residents.. This is done to create heightened organizational confidence and understanding of stable structures, and also a view into bereaucratic procedures.
Collective living and social inclusion:
Regular allmeetings and social interaction are establishing trust between the residents. This will also create a bigger tolerance for other individuals. Sex, age, religion or gender are not a factor. Because of the buildings plan it is necessary that residents share toilets, kitchens & bathrooms. Meetings are held in private apartments or in the common area in the basement. RThere is a common washery in the basement.
A BIT ABOUT VESTBREDDENS HISTORY
4´th of September 1999 a group of homeless people squatted the empty building Hausmannsgt.40 (H40.) H40 and the buildings around had by then been empty for several years, but the amount of garbage and needles beard witness of former residents.
The years have passed by and now there are 12-15 residents and some cats living here. The water and plumbing systems have been rehabilitated and the electrical installations and fire alarm system have recently been upgraded.
Part of the building was ruined by moisture and fungus when the house was squatted. By removing clay and replacing the floor, this problem is now solved. In addition a part of the house foundation has been washed away, with the southern-east corner nearly collapsing as a result.
The fact is that if we had not fixed these damages and stopped water leaking in, the whole house would probably have been ruined for good within six months. We have also replaced a truss that was rotten.
In July 2003 the fire department ordered us to put the building in a regulatory state so we installed fire doors and double layered drywalls. We also started a cooperation with Oslo municipality, installing sprinklers and we can proudly say we are one of the most fireproof buildings in Norway!
Since we are not that easily removable, the municipality has also installed a fire alarm system, because of pressure from the Fire- and safety department,
We have worked hard to make this house habitable and we have no intention of moving out.
We´ve got neighbors:
In recent years the culture house Hausmania has rented Hausmannsgt 34 from Statsbygg. The contract was quite horrendous and the burden of state property management was put on the shoulders of the artists renting the property. Their visions for Hausmania has been to create an open and vibrant art center as an alternative to the “culture house” that at the time was being built down in Bjørvika.
9´th of October 2005 Hausmannsgt 42 (H42) was squatted by people in need of housing. A great deal of them had been living in the squat in Mor Gohjertas vei, that had been evicted earlier that year. H42 was quickly evicted and quickly re-squatted again. The squatters were allowed to stay in the corner building some years, in peace and quiet. All along, one of the prerequisites was that H42 would be an equal partner, alongside H40 and Hausmania, in possible negotiations with the municipality
DARK CLOUDS:
In 2003 Statsbygg were ordered to sell Hauskvartalet to the highest bidder. If this was to pay for Victor D. Normans piano lessons is unknown. What is known though, is that Minister Norman, who then was the leader of the Work and administration department (including Statsbygg) had the power to ease the situation for the people who revitalized the property. A recommendation from the minister, to use the exception rule in the disposal instruction, could have made it possible to sell the area for a lower sum than the free market would indicate or even giving it away as a gift. But Victor seemed to lack any evidence of socially political consciousness, he actually actively worked against any of the sorts.
THE VULTURES
Our block is a potential pearl in the midst of central Oslo, a few steps away from the river Akerselva. It did not take long before the whole blocks future seemed to be in the hands of Aspelin-Ramm and co. Part of the opposition at city hall has usually had an understanding of the citys lack of housing. Unfortunately; the political parties Høyre, FrP and KrF seemingly have acted like a right winged constipation, strangling alternative housing initiatives. It looks like the christians (KrF) have understood that art and culture = money. Before christmas one year, the city council made a resolution to buy Hausmannskvartalet, with the intention to save the cultural activities at Hausmania. There was in general concerns about the politician’s resolution and if the majority at City Hall really wanted to purchase the block. But the municipal government has kept their promise and bought the property in may 2004 for 12. million kroner. Now they want to sell it.
The Future
City Council for urban development Merete Agerbak-Jensen (council between 2006-2009) once said that the squatted houses in Hausmannsgate should be emptied. H42 was evicted, because they did not recognize the necessity of increasing fire safety by saying yes to sprinklers.
Nov. 2014 the sales process of H40 – Vestbredden started for real…..
But we are still here! And we have no intentions to leave voluntarily!
How can we identify with a society that doesn´t want to house us?
Statutes for Arbeids- og Bosamvirket Vestbredden vell vell:
§1 NAME: the cooperation’s name is Arbeids- og Bosamvirket Vestbredden Vell vell.
§2 Purpose: The cooperation’s purpose is to establish and keep Hausmannsgt. 40 (H40) as a lasting work- and housing collective that is based on solidarity and social and ecological principles. The purpose is also to maintain and rehabilitate H40, the backyard, inside and outside.
The cooperation is not to run business with intention to profit. The cooperation is made up by and for residents and users of H40.
§3 COOPERATION PRINCIPLES: The Cooperation follows the principles made by International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) in1995.
§4 SHARES: The shares are 50 hours of work or the equivalent material value.
§5 SHAREHOLDERS: Application to become a shareholder has to be written and sent to the board. Having shares gives you the right to housing. The board processes applications according to § 10.
§6 TRANSFERRING SHARED: It is not possible to transfer shares.
§7 WITHDRAWAL/EXCLUSION/EVICTION: In cases of withdrawal/exclusion/eviction the shareholders have no right to get their shares refunded. The shares stay in the cooperation. Eviction from housing may happen if statutes have not been followed, by gross violation of house rules or gross economic violation. Eviction is a serious matter and must be scrutinized by the board. In eviction cases there has to be a 4/5 majority at two consecutive board meetings.
§8 SALE: It is illegal to sell the flats. It is not possible to withdraw economic funds when moving out
§9 SUBLETTING: Shareholder can sublet but the person subletting must be approved by the board. Reason for subletting must also be approved by the board. Subletting of apartment is only to be performed at full cost. Subletting can be performed at tops one year at a time and maximum three years altogether. The apartments are not to be left empty more than three months.
§10 ALLOCATION OF APARTMENTS: The board decides who will be allocated an apartment. Allocation happens at two consecutive meetings with a majority of 4/5. The main concern when allocating is potential shareholders need for housing and what the potential shareholder can contribute with in the cooperation. There is no waiting list for allocation of apartments
§11 ANIMALS: Animals are allowed in the apartments.
§12 THE BOARD: All residents over the age 16 years are in board members. Each member has one vote. Chairman, deputy and secretary are elected in a special election. These roles are appointed on a yearly basis and should be on rotation.
§13 THE BOARDS RESOLUTIONS: The board can make resolutions when at least 1/3 of the members are present and with at least a 2/3 majority. If a board member thinks it necessary, an issue must be voted over at a board meeting where at least 4/5 of the members are present and at least 4/5 vote for. This be the case if it is not specified in other paragraphs.
§14 ANNUAL MEETING: The supreme authority of the cooperation is the annual meeting. The ordinary annual meeting is held every year before june 30´th. Extra ordinary annual meeting is held when the board find it necessary. Notice of annual meeting is to be sent out at least six weeks prior to the meeting. Cases that shareholders want to be discuss must be in the hands of the board members at least four weeks prior to the meeting. All cases for the annual meeting have to be mentioned in a new notice sent out three weeks before the meeting
§15 CASES THAT HAVE TO BE PROCESSED AT ANNUAL MEETING:
Election of chairman
Annual report from the board
Annual settlement
Review of possible changes to the statues
Other cases that are mentioned in the notice
§16 CHAIRING AND VOTING: The annual meeting is led by elected chairman. The board must have received chairman suggestions 4 weeks prior to the annual meeting. All cases are settled with a regular majority by given votes, if not mentioned otherwise in the statutes. If there is an equality of votes, the case is settled by drawing lots.
§17 CHANGING STATUES: Changing of statutes can only be done with a 4/5 majority at two consecutive annual meetings.
§18 CLOSURE OF COOPERATIVE: A closure of the cooperation can only be done by unanimous vote done at two consecutive annual meetings. If a closure is performed all funds owned by the cooperative is to be given to another cooperative or an idealistic organization, the annual meeting decides who will receive the funds.