The Housing Path

Conventional housing is one of the state's most effective control mechanisms. Mortgages lock you into 30 years of debt. Property taxes mean you never truly own your land—miss a payment and they take it. Rent funnels money to landlords who pay those same taxes. Zoning laws dictate what you can build and where. Building codes require expensive permits for the simplest improvements. Every housing option in the traditional system funds the state and restricts your freedom.

The Housing Path is about finding shelter that doesn't require feeding the system. Whether you want to travel light, put down roots, or something in between, there are ways to live free.

Free housing doesn't necessarily mean free of cost—it means free of state control and extraction. It's housing where you don't pay property taxes, don't need permits, don't follow zoning laws, and don't fund bureaucracies through rent or mortgage interest.

This can take many forms:

Here are your concrete pathways to housing that doesn't fund the state. Pick the one that fits your current situation and goals.

1. Start with Agorist Hosts

Agorist Hosts are Network members who offer temporary housing—sometimes a guest room, sometimes land to camp on, sometimes a parking spot for your vehicle. These hosts provide more than just a place to stay: they're your entry point into the physical Network, offering local knowledge, connections, and support as you figure out your next steps.

Hosts are especially valuable if you're new to an area, transitioning between housing situations, or getting vetted into deeper levels of the Network. Many host locations also serve as informal hubs where you can meet other members, learn about local opportunities, and build the trust needed to access more permanent housing options.

Immediate action: Check the Agorist Host Locations map to find hosts near you or in areas you want to explore. Reach out to introduce yourself and ask about short-term stays. Even if you're not ready to travel yet, building these connections now will serve you later.

2. Explore Free Land Living

Free Lands are privately-owned properties that Network members make available to vetted individuals and families at no cost. These aren't communes or collectivist projects—they're private land where the owner has chosen to welcome fellow freedom-seekers without charging rent or imposing state-style rules.

What you can do on free lands varies by property: some allow camping or vehicle dwelling, others welcome homesteaders who want to build permanent structures, many need help developing infrastructure or cultivating food. The common thread is that you're not paying property taxes (the owner handles that) and you're living according to voluntary agreements, not state regulations.

Free lands are ideal if you want to put down roots, develop skills like building or farming, or be part of developing a resilient physical community. Expect to contribute labor or skills in exchange for your place—it's about mutual benefit, not charity.

Immediate action: Browse the Free Locations map to see what properties are available and what each one offers. Reach out to property stewards to learn about expectations and opportunities. If you have skills in construction, farming, or land development, mention them—these properties need capable people.

3. Embrace Nomadic Living

Road life offers maximum freedom and minimum state entanglement. When your home moves with you, you're not tied to any location, any property tax bill, any local jurisdiction's rules. You can follow economic opportunities, stay near friends, or simply keep moving.

The Network supports nomadic living through several channels:

Nomadic living isn't for everyone—it requires adaptability, mechanical skills (or willingness to learn), and comfort with minimalism. But for those it fits, it's the ultimate expression of location independence.

Immediate action: If you're interested in road life, start by reading about vehicle dwelling setups in the Gear Guide. Connect with current nomads in Connect to learn what the lifestyle actually involves. You don't need to commit to full-time nomadic living right away—many people start with extended road trips to test the waters.

4. Build Off-Grid on Private Land

If you want permanent roots but don't want to feed the system, consider building off-grid on private land in low-enforcement areas. This typically means rural or agricultural property where you can construct alternative dwellings (tiny homes, cabins, yurts, earthships) without triggering municipal inspectors.

The key is finding land that's either unincorporated (no local government) or in jurisdictions with minimal enforcement. You'll likely still pay property taxes (or the landowner will), but you avoid the permit mills, code enforcement, and HOA restrictions that plague conventional housing.

This path requires more capital and skills than the others, but it offers the most autonomy. You control what you build, how you build it, and who you share it with.

Immediate action: If this path interests you, start researching land prices and regulations in areas you'd consider living. Look for counties with minimal building codes and large minimum lot sizes (often a sign of low enforcement). Connect with Network members who've already done this through Connect—their experience is invaluable.

5. Combine Strategies

Many Network members don't stick to just one housing approach. They might live nomadically part of the year while maintaining a home base on free land. Or bounce between host locations while saving to buy property. Or use off-grid land as a launching pad for caravan adventures.

The point is flexibility. The more housing options you can access, the more resilient you become. If one situation changes, you have alternatives.

Immediate action: Think about your ideal mix. Do you want a home base with seasonal travel? Full-time nomadic living with occasional land access? A permanent homestead with guest capacity for traveling members? There's no wrong answer—just what works for you.

Your depth of engagement depends on where you are in your journey.

New to Alternative Housing?

Start with the basics. Read Intro to Voluntaryism and Our Core Principles to understand the philosophy behind living free. Then explore Transcending Location in The Workshop to see how location independence works in practice.

Take action: Contact an Agorist Host for a short-term stay, or visit a free land property to see what community living outside the system actually looks like.

Already Living Alternatively?

Dive deeper. Explore Socially-Perpetuated Self-Encagement to understand the psychological barriers that keep people trapped in conventional housing. Study Network Structure to see how territories and trust levels work in physical communities.

Take action: If you already have housing figured out, consider becoming a host yourself or offering your land as a free location. The Network grows through people like you sharing resources.

Housing is one of the biggest expenses in the conventional system—and one of the most effective tools of control. Breaking free from housing dependence is one of the most impactful steps you can take toward a free life.

Start with one concrete action this week: reach out to a host, visit a free land property, research nomadic living, or connect with someone already doing this. The hardest part is starting. Once you begin, you'll find more options than you realized existed.

Ready to explore the next pathway? Continue to The Community Path, or return to Camp Orientation to explore a different path.

Want to dive into specific resources? Visit The Agorist Welcome Outpost to see the full map of the Network.