Chapter 04 · People & supply chainsHuman Rights & Social Sustainability
Community land trust (CLT)
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
nonprofit structure; tripartite board; 99-year ground lease; permanent affordability
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.