A woman’s cooperative as alternative housing
On a campus that often seems starkly divided between Greek and independent students, University of Idaho sophomore Alex Croft said she loves Steel House because it’s the best of both worlds.
“Some of us are really independent and just do our own thing,” Croft said. “But some of us are really involved. We’re never required to do activities, but we have Halloween and Christmas parties and stuff like that, and once in a while we’ll participate in Greek activities, like the Watermelon Bash.”
Kira Hunter | Argonaut
Women of Steel House enjoy the best of both worlds — Greek and independent student living — in one of the nation’s oldest women’s living cooperatives.
With a sleeping porch, a house board including a president, a house manager and a social chair and a tight-knit family environment, Croft said the Steel House culture resembles the Greek system. At the same time, the freedom afforded to residents is much more reminiscent of independent living.
Croft said one of her favorite parts of living in the women’s cooperative is that everyone pitches in to do chores together — not only does it help the women bond, she said, but it keeps the costs of living there low.
“Everybody is fun and laid back, and also really humorous,” Croft said. “I stayed there overnight when I came to Vandal Friday, and I loved that we could all sleep together on the sleeping porch, and I loved that we have pianos and I loved that we have a cook, because everyone wants a cook.”
Steel House, a nonprofit organization, is one of the oldest women’s living cooperatives in the country and was founded by former Idaho Regent Ethel Steel in 1953. In women’s cooperatives, residents are encouraged to learn to work together to create a home environment and learn skills to be independent.
According to Croft, up to 32 women can live in the house at a time, and applications are accepted on a first come first serve basis. Croft said the rooms usually fill up quickly — which makes sense, according to Croft, since it’s an appealing environment to so many women.
“I think it’s a great transition into college because there’s so much freedom, but also so many people there to help you out,” Croft said. “It’s very diverse and you get to meet many, many people.”
Hannah Shirley can be reached at [email protected]