The Effective Altruism (EA) community consists of individuals committed to maximizing their positive impact, often through donations or high-impact careers. However, this can lead to financial strain, especially for early-career EAs or those in high-cost areas. Additionally, traditional housing and purchasing systems don’t cater to the community-building needs of EAs, who often value collaboration and support networks.

Shared Housing and Group Purchasing

One way to address these challenges could be through two interconnected solutions: shared housing and group purchasing. Shared housing would involve co-living spaces designed specifically for EAs, offering affordable rent, shared resources, and a built-in community. Group purchasing would leverage collective buying power to secure bulk discounts on essentials like groceries or utilities. Both approaches could reduce financial burdens while fostering stronger community ties. For example, shared housing might include communal workspaces for EA projects, and group purchasing could involve partnerships with local EA-aligned businesses.

Stakeholder Benefits and Execution

Potential beneficiaries include early-career EAs, professionals in high-cost areas, students, and EA organizations. Residents could save money and gain a supportive community, while landlords might benefit from stable, long-term tenants. Local businesses could see increased patronage, and EA organizations could enjoy reduced overhead costs for employees or volunteers.

A pilot phase could start with a single shared house in a high-demand EA hub, like the Netherlands, and a small group purchasing trial for 10–20 households. Scaling up might involve creating standardized models for EA houses and developing simple coordination tools, like WhatsApp groups or shared spreadsheets. Over time, expansion to other cities and partnerships with EA-aligned suppliers could further enhance savings and community impact.

Comparison with Existing Solutions

Unlike generic co-living spaces, this approach would prioritize EA values like trust and impact focus. Similarly, while bulk purchasing platforms exist, they often require membership fees and aren’t optimized for small groups. By tailoring these solutions to the EA community, the project could offer unique advantages in cost savings and collaboration opportunities.

In summary, combining shared housing with group purchasing could address financial and community needs within the EA community, leveraging its unique values and networks for greater impact.