Community Land Trusts (CLTs)

for locally controlled housing that is affordable in perpetuity (that’s forever!)

Potential Homeowners

There is an agreement between the Trust and the homeowner about improvements, upkeep standards, and resale. Typically homeowners can recover their equity (including any improvements made) and realize a portion (typically 25%) of any increase in market value in the resale of the house. The land itself remains in the ownership of the Trust in perpetuity.

Lots of Successful CLTs Elsewhere

There are lots of good examples in the Pacific Northwest and beyond of CLTs that have been functioning for years. Check these out for starts:

ProudGround is Portland’s own and the largest CLT in the Pacific NW. They’ve helped over 400 homeowners purchase affordable homes in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clark, and Lincoln County (just to the south of us!) Check out their website for more information.

Unlike Oregon, the State of Washington has been supporting CLTs for a long time so there are lots of homegrown examples that were inspiring to NeahCasa’s board in its early days.

Check out the Orcas Island OPAL Community Land Trust. They equate affordable homes with a healthy community. Their page How Opal Community Land Trust Works gives a really good synopsis of a typical CLT process.

San Juan Home Trust is one of several land trusts in the San Juan Islands area.

Lopez Community Land Trust has a long community-based history including this award winning project:

Kulshan Community Land Trust in Bellingham, Washington.

A cool collection of different projects, many involving tiny homes, under the aegis of SquareOne Villages in Eugene, Oregon

New purchase in Northern California that involves buying existing structures with folks already living there. Check out CLAM in Point Reyes.