Global Communities started in 1952 as Cooperative Housing Foundation operating mainly in the United States, but over time has grown with support from its many  partners to extend its technical and innovative interventions to most parts of the world.

Global Communities has since 1952 worked across the globe on all continents. The non exhausted list includes Afghanistan, Antigua, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroun, Chad, Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cote d' Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, DR Congo,Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Ghana, Russia, Nepal, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, United States of America, West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Pakistan.

In 2007, Global Communities started operations in Ghana with study of housing conditions in some selected communities in Accra. Two field offices were opened in Accra and Takoradi , marking the commencement of implementation of the Bill & Melinda Gates funded Slum Communities Achieving Liveable Environments with Urban Partners (SCALE-UP) in the Accra and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolises.