What's in it for the early members is security of tenure. It's one of the most important parts of co-op housing. If you're a tenant, your landlord can evict you. They need a reason of course, but the reason could, in B.C. at least, be something as simple as they want their kids to move into your unit. In a co-op, as long as you pay your housing charges and live by the rules of the co-op, you can live there.
On July 26th, 2012. See this statement in context.