Community Land Trust

Community land trusts (CLTs) acquire land and hold it in perpetuity for permanently affordable housing and community benefit, separating land ownership from home ownership to ensure housing affordability across generations while building community wealth and preventing displacement.

With housing affordability crisis and 260+ CLTs nationwide, organizations operate with budgets of $280,000-$1,000,000+ annually funded through grants, land donations, and development fees.

The CLT requires 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, board with community representation, real estate and affordable housing development expertise, land acquisition strategy, and sustainable land stewardship model.

Programs include land acquisition for affordable housing, permanently affordable homeownership through ground leases, affordable rental housing development, community gardens and green space preservation, and commercial space for community businesses.

Revenue comes from ground lease fees, development fees, foundation grants, municipal affordable housing funds, and philanthropic land donations.

Success factors include community governance with resident board representation, land acquisition strategy (donations, purchases, foreclosure intervention), affordable housing development partnerships with builders, ensuring perpetual affordability through resale restrictions, and sustainable land stewardship operating model.

Most successful CLTs focus on specific geographic areas (neighborhood, small city) maintaining community-scale.

The nonprofit creates permanently affordable housing while building community land ownership.

Many CLTs combine housing with community gardens, small business space, and green infrastructure on trust land.

Funding comes from affordable housing foundations, municipal affordable housing funds, banks meeting CRA requirements, and progressive donors.

With housing costs excluding working families and gentrification displacing communities in 2025, community land trusts offer transformative opportunities for housing justice advocates creating permanently affordable housing and community land ownership models ensuring housing affordability across generations while building community wealth and preventing displacement.