D’Kommunitee Living Spaces is on a mission to build an inclusive community for everyone!
1 year ago Rituka MHyderabad-based D’Kommunitee Living Spaces is on a mission to build an inclusive community for everyone, at affordable prices.
Although Article 377 has been scrapped, the dignity and freedom that must be afforded to the LGBTQ+ community is still a dream. Social acceptance and freedom to be who you are, are still very much far-fetched. The stigma prevalent in society often pushes people of other orientations to hide their true identities.
People from the LGBTQ+ community often hide their real personalities from their families and neighbors due to the stigma. Finding a co-living space/society that is accepting and understanding is very difficult. And, the struggle is real. To eliminate this, Ankith Narayan, Murari Kumar Raja, and Pratap James founded D’Kommunitee Living Spaces.
The Hyderabad-based startup aims to create a safe and secure co-living space for the LGBTQ+ community. They are the first ones to have pitched this idea, and they believe it to be an initiative. Co-living spaces have boomed in the country lately, however, there isn’t one just for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Business Model
D’Kommunitee Living Spaces aims to offer an affordable, livable space for the members of the LGBTQ+ community. They aim to rent out private rooms or entire flats, with shared common spaces like a kitchen and a common area. You can rent out a room if you are single or share it with your partner; all you need to do is pack your bags and shift to the accommodation after all the necessary verifications. The company aims to offer furnished rooms, as well as provide cleaning services and community events.
Currently, the company intends to only offer long-stay options ranging between 3 months to a year. The company plans to lease out a 5-story building at Ayyappa Society in Hyderabad, that can accommodate up to 150 people. The charges range between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 a month, and can be rented out through Habitat Inc’s website or app.
Due to the Covid-19 situation in the country, the plans to start operations have been delayed. The founders have bootstrapped the company but intend to raise capital from the market, and expand to other cities.
“If you look different, the society or the neighbors have hundreds of questions. If you do get an accommodation, there are unsaid norms you strictly need to follow like act in a certain way, carry in a certain way,” James says on the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. Adding, “We want to create an atmosphere where you are welcome and can be what you want to be…free from preconceived notions.”
