Sustainability Language

Human Rights & Social Sustainability

Community land trust (CLT)

A nonprofit, community-governed organisation that holds land permanently to keep housing and other assets affordable.

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Definition

A community land trust is a nonprofit corporation that acquires and holds land in trust for a community, leasing it — typically through long-term, renewable 99-year ground leases — to homeowners, housing providers or other users. A tripartite board of leaseholders, other community members and public representatives governs the trust, separating land ownership from building ownership to preserve affordability permanently.

References

Shelterforce

New Communities Inc. origin; shared-equity family; land share of housing cost

Overview

What it means

It takes land out of the speculative market while allowing residents to build equity in their homes.

How it is used

CLTs support permanently affordable housing, community gardens, commercial spaces and land stewardship; the first is widely credited to New Communities Inc. , founded in Albany, Georgia, in the civil-rights era.

Why it matters

Because land can represent 20–50% of housing cost, removing it from speculation durably anchors affordability and community control.

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