Communa ASBL
Communa ASBL is a Brussels-based non-profit that legally occupies vacant buildings to provide temporary housing for people in precarious situations, alongside workspaces, ateliers, and community spaces across approximately 13 sites in Brussels and Tournai.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersForest, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Communa ASBL does
Communa ASBL is a Brussels-based non-profit association (Association Sans But Lucratif) that legally occupies vacant buildings on a temporary basis and converts them into mixed-use spaces prioritizing housing for people in precarious situations, alongside workspaces, ateliers, community facilities, and cultural venues. Founded in 2017 (with activity dating to 2013), the organization addresses a documented market gap: approximately 6.5 million m² of vacant real estate and roughly 10,000 people without homes in the Brussels-Capital Region. Across approximately 13 active sites spanning Forest, Schaerbeek, Evere, Ixelles, Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Koekelberg, Watermael-Boitsfort and Tournai, Communa manages around 20,000 m² of occupied space and has housed more than 300 people while supporting hundreds of social, cultural and solidarity-economy projects.
The organization operates through an explicitly non-hierarchical, Holacratie-based governance model distributed across thematic pôles (Lieux, Structure, Technique, Essaimage, Développement, Financement, Administratif, Communication) and uses collective-intelligence methodologies for decision-making. Its core technology is the practice of "transitional urbanism with social finality": legal occupation conventions (as distinct from squatting), circular-economy building rehabilitation, project-matching against neighborhood needs, and conscious/free pricing for occupants. Product offerings include named temporary-occupation sites (Maxima, Marbré, La Marelle, Sorocité, Tritomas & Cailles, Youyou, Le 70-Treize, Le Belafonte, La Veilleuse, Maison de la Récup'), Bureaux Partagés shared offices, and an Accompagnement consulting service covering technical studies, territorial strategy, governance structuring, and project assembly. Brussels Tours and Kermesse event products extend the brand.
Revenue is generated through a hybrid financing model combining public subsidies (Brussels-Capital Region, multiple communes, SLRB, SPRB, Vivalis), occupant contributions under a conscious-pricing model, paid consulting services priced at EUR 800-4,000 per engagement, and event activities. Communa also co-founded Fair Ground Brussels (a Community Land Trust-style cooperative that has raised over EUR 2 million) and the STUN international network spanning eight countries, extending its model beyond direct operations. The organization's distribution is community-led, relying on neighborhood relationships, social-economy networks, and participatory events rather than traditional sales channels.
Communa ASBL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Communa ASBL
- Legal name
- Communa ASBL
- Website
- https://communa.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Communa ASBL is a Brussels-based non-profit that legally occupies vacant buildings to provide temporary housing for people in precarious situations, alongside workspaces, ateliers, and community spaces across approximately 13 sites in Brussels and Tournai.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Communa ASBL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Housing & Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Temporary Housing & Serviced Accommodation Coordination (HSAKACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mixed-Use Community Association Management (BPAJAHAF)
Keywords
Where Communa ASBL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Forest
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Communa ASBL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Public Subsidies: Communal and regional public subsidies and donations from public utility foundations covering a portion of activities. Core structural costs should ideally be covered by structural subsidies.
- Occupant Contributions: Financial contributions from occupants of managed spaces based on conscious/free pricing model. Each occupant participates in covering costs according to their means, creating a solidarity system.
- Consulting and Support Services: Fees for professional services including technical feasibility studies, territorial and strategic studies, governance support, and project management for other organizations and property owners. Pricing ranges from 1,500 EUR for 1-day engagements to 4,000 EUR for 5-day studies.
- Event Activities: Revenue from bars, events, and activities organized within managed spaces including conferences, workshops, and neighborhood gatherings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Monthly | Shared offices at Maxima, 647m² space in Forest |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Advocacy Support Services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Technical Feasibility Studies |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Communa ASBL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Communa ASBL legally and temporarily occupies vacant buildings in the Brussels region to insert in priority temporary housing for people in precarious situations, and also life, play, work, and creation spaces. The organization manages a portfolio of nearly 30 sites totaling 20,000+ m² and combines direct space management for individuals and collectives with fee-based advisory services (technical studies, territorial studies, governance support, and project assembly) for property owners and municipalities.
Product overview
Communa ASBL operates as a social transitional urbanism organization managing an ecosystem of approximately 20 physical locations across Brussels and Tournai. The core offering consists of temporary building occupations converted into mixed-use spaces combining housing (for precarious populations, refugees, and families), community spaces, artist studios, shared offices (Bureaux Partagés), and cultural activities. The portfolio includes dedicated housing projects (Sorocité, Youyou, Tritomas & Cailles, Maxima), community spaces (La Marelle, Le 70-Treize, Le Belafonte), mixed-use hubs (Marbré with 43 projects), and a newly launched third-place in Tournai (La Veilleuse). Beyond space management, Communa offers advisory services (Accompagnement) covering technical studies, territorial strategy, governance structuring, and project assembly, as well as event services like kermesse games and guided Brussels tours.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 300+ people housed across various sites
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Communa ASBL
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Communa ASBL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Communa ASBL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Fair Ground BrusselscoreCo-founded land acquisition cooperative modeled on Community Land Trust principles. Objective is to remove land from speculative markets and provide affordable access to housing and workspace. Communa is co-bearer alongside CLTB, L'ilot, Les petits riens, and other Brussels associations.
- STUN (Social Temporary Use Network)coreInternational network co-founded by Communa to strengthen temporary occupation project practices and build common strategy for guaranteeing social purpose in transitional urbanism. Includes Meanwhile Space (UK), Alte Mu (Germany), Institut for (X) (Denmark), Free Riga (Latvia), and Yes We Camp (France).
- BITU (Bridging Inclusive Temporary Use)coreProgram creating tools to share experiences and knowledge around social-purpose temporary occupation. Co-developed by Communa with 4 STUN network members: Alte Mu, Institut for (X), Free Riga. Tools made available to projects aligned with program objectives and values.
- FéBUL (Fédération Bruxelloise Unie pour le Logement)majorBrussels federation working for effective right to housing. Key player in developing temporary occupation for housing purposes. Supported Communa's development from origins and continues to do so. Communa member since 2018.
- SAW-BmajorSocial economy federation since 1981, defending social economy as alternative to neoliberal capitalism. Communa crew member since 2019, participating in advocacy, conferences, workshops, and good practice exchanges.
- CLTB (Community Land Trust Brussels)majorLong-term partner working to create affordable acquisition housing. Communa supported CLTB acquisition of La Serre building, transitioning from temporary occupation to permanent affordable housing development.
- Plateau Urbain (Paris)minorCommuna solicited to organize and facilitate Plateau Urbain's annual seminar. Opportunity to share governance tools with cooperative of nearly 100 people, focusing on working better together.
- Yes We Camp (Marseille)minorFrench transitional urbanism organization. Communa accompanied members to review organization model, strengthening internal structure on participatory dimensions based on commons theory.
- SpinTime Labs (Rome)minor3-day training on shared governance tools delivered by Communa to organization in temporary occupation welcoming 300+ residents. Objective: providing tools to balance horizontality and efficiency.
- Nientedafare (Biella)minorTraining in shared governance delivered by Communa.
- ErafricheminorInter-association exchange program for workers in French-speaking social-purpose temporary occupation structures. Initiated by Communa with Entremise (Quebec) and Plateau Urbain (France) to mutualize efforts and facilitate mutual aid.
- The 20th Commune (Saint-Vide-Leegbeek)majorCampaign and communication initiative raising awareness about 6.5 million m² of vacant space in Brussels and necessity of occupation to meet residents' needs. Carried by Communa, Toestand, Fébul, Logement 123 Woningen, BRAL, and SAW-B.
- L'Ilot ASBLmajorOwner of Marbré buildings. Project: create day center for and by women without homes and welcoming house with rooms and common spaces. Purchase made possible by Fair Ground Brussels cooperative co-founded by Communa.
- StepforwardmajorPartner at Sorocité providing psycho-medico-social support following Housing First methodology for people without homes.
- SmesmajorPartner at Sorocité providing social support services using Housing First methodology.
- DiogènesmajorPartner at Sorocité providing social support services using Housing First methodology.
- Infirmiers de ruemajorPartner at Sorocité providing street nurse services and support using Housing First methodology.
- Antonin ArtaudmajorPartner at Sorocité providing social support services using Housing First methodology.
- ConvivialmajorSupporting recently recognized refugees at Sorocité with integration assistance.
- SamusocialmajorPartner for La Casa Vesta collective housing project at Maxima, providing accompaniment for women with and without children.
- SPRB (Service Public Régional de Bruxelles)majorRegional public service of Brussels providing funding and support for Tritomas & Cailles modular housing project.
- VivalismajorBrussels housing agency providing funding support for Tritomas & Cailles and Sorocité projects.
- SLRB (Société du Logement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale)majorRegional housing company providing support and oversight for Tritomas & Cailles modular housing and Youyou social housing projects.
- New Samu SocialmajorPartner for ELAN program at Tritomas & Cailles, providing social workers for family accompaniment and housing search assistance.
- SINGA BelgiummajorPartnership at Belafonte for Cohabitations Solidaires (CoSol) program linking Brussels colocations with refugees for shared living experiences.
- Ukrainian VoicesminorPartner at Tritomas & Cailles supporting Ukrainian refugee community integration.
- Logement MolenbeekoismajorSocial housing company, property owner of Youyou building. Future renovation project for entire social housing building.
- Bruss'helpmajorPublic organization coordinating emergency aid and insertion services for homeless people in Brussels Region. Partner at Youyou.
- Arty FartyminorClient for technical feasibility study and territorial study for Reset cultural temporary occupation project in Brussels center (2020-2022).
- ReviveminorPrivate developer client for territorial audit and stakeholder management at former Heyvaert steelworks (13,000m²). Study to identify needs for final project and explore temporary occupation potential.
- Charleroi Centre-Ville ASBLminorClient for project setup including territorial audit, owner negotiations, project leader meetings, building audits, and launch accompaniment for temporary occupation of empty shops (2021-2022).
- The 20th CommunemajorCollective advocacy campaign including Communa, Toestand, Fébul, Logement 123 Woningen, BRAL, and SAW-B, advocating against for-profit temporary occupation practices that exclude precarious populations.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Communa ASBL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Habitat & Humanisme: Large French federation providing temporary and permanent housing for precarious populations through a broader portfolio of property acquisition, rehabilitation, and social support services. Operates at significantly larger scale than Communa but addresses the same housing-precarity problem with a more institutionalized model.
Direct peers
- Meanwhile Space: UK-based social enterprise specializing in meanwhile/temporary use of vacant property for community benefit. Co-founder of the STUN network with Communa and operates on the same social-purpose temporary occupation model.
- Alte Mu: German organization (Bonn) operating temporary cultural and social use of vacant buildings. STUN network co-founder with Communa and co-developer of the BITU knowledge-sharing program.
- Yes We Camp: Marseille-based organization specializing in transitional urbanism and temporary occupation of vacant spaces for social and cultural purposes. Co-member of STUN alongside Communa, with similar focus on activating underused buildings for community use.
- Toestand: Belgian (Flanders) organization activating temporary occupation of vacant buildings for social and cultural projects. Direct co-actor with Communa in the '20th Commune' advocacy campaign and shares the same regulatory and social-purpose framework.
- Plateau Urbain: Paris-based cooperative specializing in temporary occupation of vacant buildings for social, cultural, and solidarity economy projects. Plateau Urbain operates the same occupation-convention model as Communa, manages shared workspaces, and is a member of the Erafriche exchange program together with Communa.
- Entremise: Quebec-based organization coordinating temporary occupation of vacant buildings for social and cultural projects. Initiated the Erafriche inter-association exchange program together with Communa and Plateau Urbain.
- Free Riga: Latvian organization that activates vacant buildings for cultural and social use. Co-founder of the STUN network with Communa and co-developer of BITU, applying the same temporary-use-with-social-finality model.
Others
- FéBUL (Fédération Bruxelloise Unie pour le Logement): Brussels federation working for the right to housing and a key supporter of Communa's development since its origins. Shares the same political and policy advocacy space around temporary occupation for housing purposes.
- Community Land Trust Brussels (CLTB): Brussels-based cooperative developing permanently affordable housing using Community Land Trust principles. Communa's strategic partner and the entity that acquired La Serre to convert it into permanent affordable housing, making CLTB a natural downstream buyer of Communa-incubated sites.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Communa ASBL social profiles
Digital presenceCommuna ASBL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Communa ASBL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Communa ASBL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Communa ASBL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Communa ASBL
What does Communa ASBL do?
Communa ASBL legally and temporarily occupies vacant buildings in the Brussels region to insert in priority temporary housing for people in precarious situations, and also life, play, work, and creation spaces. The organization manages a portfolio of nearly 30 sites totaling 20,000+ m² and combines direct space management for individuals and collectives with fee-based advisory services (technical studies, territorial studies, governance support, and project assembly) for property owners and municipalities.
Is Communa ASBL a public or private company?
Communa ASBL is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Communa ASBL founded?
Communa ASBL was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Communa ASBL based?
Communa ASBL is headquartered in Forest, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Communa ASBL make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are occupant Contributions, consulting and Support Services and event Activities.
Who are Communa ASBL's main competitors?
Habitat & Humanisme is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Meanwhile Space, Alte Mu, Yes We Camp, Toestand, Plateau Urbain, Entremise and Free Riga. Others are FéBUL (Fédération Bruxelloise Unie pour le Logement) and Community Land Trust Brussels (CLTB).
Does Communa ASBL have an API?
No public API is recorded for Communa ASBL.
What industry is Communa ASBL in?
Communa ASBL's product category is Social Housing & Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKACAG, Temporary Housing & Serviced Accommodation Coordination, with a secondary code of BPAJAHAF, Mixed-Use Community Association Management. Its NAICS code is 6239 and its SIC code is 8744.