Community Land Trusts…Providing Access to Home Ownership

Community Land Trust (CLT) homes cost less than market rate homes because CLT homebuyers purchase only the house and enter into a long-term agreement with the land trust for the use of the land. By taking the cost of the land out of the real estate transaction, these homes are more affordable than houses on the open real estate market.

John Swanson, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community, Planning and Development (CPD) says that “Today in many communities, growth and development are driving up real estate prices so that fewer and fewer people can afford to own or rent a home in the communities where they work.  Our communities invest local, state and federal funds to subsidize housing costs for lower income households, but the gap between the amount of subsidy needed for affordability and the amount of subsidy available continues to widen.  CLTs can address some of these problems.  We do not view CLTs as the approach to the development of affordable housing in our Minnesota communities.  Rather, we view CLTs as another approach or tool to assist in the development of affordable housing.”  

"The City of Lakes Community Land Trust's (CLCLT's) receives HUD support through technical assistance funding, new organization capacity building aid, and training scholarships. The support of the local HUD office has been invaluable to the CLCLT as we grow", said Jeff Washburne, Director, City of Lakes Community Land Trust.

Read how Tamara and Nathan Lee completed their long journey to owning with the help of the Community Land Trust.

The Minnesota Community Land Trust Coalition is a consortium of 12 members, serving various communities and over 200 CLT households in Minnesota.
Read the latest news from the coalition.

For more information about Minnesota's CLTs, please visit the following webites:

• www.firsthomes.org
• www.whahlt.org
• www.landtrustduluth.org
• www.rondoclt.org
• www.hra.carver.mn.us/homebuy.htm
• www.clclt.org

OR CALL

United Housing Services - (651) 298-1903
White Bear HOME - (651) 653-0249
Woodbury Community Land Trust - (651) 714-3523
Greater Frogtown CDC - (651) 848-2021
Two Rivers Community Land Trust - (651) 351-9039
City of Northfield - (507) 645-3006

For more information from HUD's office in Minneapolis, call or email Anita Olson, Chief, Customer Service Branch, (612) 370-3000 x2289.