That's pretty much it, everyone contributes some time each month that best suits them from office work, doing light superintendent type duties, cleaning, painting, landscaping etc. thus reducing the need to hire people for those jobs. Co-operative rentals are non-profit, each person who lives in a co-op is a member and can vote for who sits on the Board of Directors to how decisions affecting the operation of the building are carried out as there is no landlord. Co-op's can range from high rises to a small group of town houses or a group of homes in close proximity. There are usually a percentage of subsidized units in each co-operative and the balance are market rental suites which are considerably lower than regular market rentals in a given neighbourhood. For example a two bedroom in a decent rental building downtown rents for about $1500-$1700 a month, in a co-op the range for market rent is roughly $950 - $1150 a month. If I understand correctly there are municipal and federally funded co-operatives. Waiting lists for subsidized units can be many years, market rental waiting periods can range from immediately available to a year or so depending on the suite size desired and the neighbourhood where the co-op is located.