Those of you who came to Cohort Day met Kassim Jama who is leading our research on housing needs for our community. Here’s a letter from Kassim,
Hey Solid State Community,
As you may know, our organization faces a significant change in the next couple of years. Due to rapid development and gentrification in central Surrey, Solid State will be losing its current home base in the next 2-5 years. At Solid State, we’re dedicated to building a solidarity economy — an economy that values people over profit and fosters intercultural learning, equity, and collaboration. What started as a search for a new office space has since evolved into something much bigger—a vision to create an affordable housing and community space where our values of solidarity, cooperation, and inclusivity can thrive.
The increasing pressures of for-profit developments have been pricing many people out of their homes in Surrey, and Solid State has always stood against this kind of extractive economic model. Our aim is not just to find a new space to work from, but to establish a welcoming, affordable place that can meet a broader community need. In this new space, we hope to provide both affordable housing and facilities for worker co-ops, sister organizations, and the BC Solidarity Economy; offering a base for the people and values at the heart of Solid State.
Our Next Steps
Currently, we’re working closely with Empacta Developments Consultants to move the project forward. We’re dedicated to building an environment that embodies the principles that have always guided us: cooperative economics, support for racialized communities, and a commitment to sustainable, non-extractive practices. Solid State has long been more than a place to work; it’s a community, a learning space, and a place where all our best work happens together.
We understand that housing needs and priorities are unique to each individual. That’s why we’re reaching out to our community for input on what values and features matter most in a home. Your feedback will help us shape this project into a space that truly reflects the diverse needs and priorities of our community. Whether it’s affordability, access to communal spaces, or a strong sense of community, we want to hear what’s most important to you. We are actively looking to speak to members of the Solid State community; staff members, cohorts, and your families.
Our new community space will be a hub for this vision, housing not only worker cooperatives but a broader network of support for enterprises committed to cooperation and non-exploitative practices.
Please reach out to me, Kassim, directly at kassim@solidstate.coop if you would like to chat, but either way I’ll be reaching out to you because this is a project for the Solid State Community and your voices are what is going to make this a reality. Our research and work at its core will be in line with Solid State’s transparent nature and updates will be forthcoming. Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to hearing your thoughts as we take these exciting steps together. Let’s continue to build a community that supports us all, for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Kassim Jama
