An Introduction to Community Land Trusts

According to the Center for Community Land Trust Innovation, a CLT is "a nonprofit corporation that holds land on behalf of a place-based community, while serving as the long-term steward for affordable housing, community gardens, civic buildings, commercial spaces and other community assets on behalf of a community."

CLTs are community-run organizations. Their members are the residents of the same area the land trust serves.

Usually, CLTs acquire property just as any other developer would. But instead of trying to maximize profit, a CLT holds the property and keeps it affordable. Often, a CLT rents or sells the units on the property at affordable rates, but continues to own the land beneath the buildings. This allows the housing on the property to stay affordable forever, without being at risk of being sold for profit.

In addition to helping low-/moderate-income individuals and families obtain housing, CLTs also help these people stay in their housing. CLTs allow residents to benefit as their property value increases, instead of being pushed out of their neighborhood as it gradually becomes unaffordable.

CLTs also provide other community benefits. They provide educational resources that help people pursue long-term financial stability. They hold workshops, events, and information sessions on various topics. CLTs can also be used for things other than housing, such as open space, recreational space and commercial business. In these and other ways, CLTs work to empower their communities.'

Click here for a downloadable presentation on CLTs in English. Siga este enlace para bajar un presentación en español.

If you’d like to learn more, here are some links for further reading about community land trusts: