What is a Community Land Trust?
The Community Land Trust (CLT) model of affordable housing was created over 30 years ago by the Institute for Community Economics (ICE) in response to the rising costs of housing, limited space for new construction, growing number of abandoned buildings and an aging housing stock in eastern U.S. cities. In looking for a creative and innovative way to address the housing problem at the time, the CLT model was born. Since that time, unfortunately, the same housing problems that plagued the eastern cities have spread across the country. In response, the CLT movement has spread as well, and there are now 220 communities in 45 states that currently operate or are forming CLTs. The purposes of a Community Land Trust are to provide access to land and housing to people who are otherwise denied access; to increase long-term community control of neighborhood resources; to empower residents through involvement and participation in the organization; and to preserve the affordability of housing permanently. Though the program specifics vary among different CLTs, the basic model is the same. CLTs offer a balanced approach to ownership: the nonprofit trust owns the land and leases it for a nominal fee to individuals who own the buildings on the land. As the home is truly their own, it provides the homeowners with the same permanence and security as a conventional buyer, and they can use the land in the same way as any other homeowner.