Beginnings

The origins of the community land trust (CLT) model stem from multiple sources. A more recent source is the 1969 formation of New Communities, Inc. in southwest Georgia, an organization formed as a collective farm for African American families facing discrimination.

How it works

To maintain affordability, CLTs purchase real estate and own the land on which there may be structures. The CLT then leases the land to people who may buy the buildings that occupy the land. The leases are long-term, at least 30 years, and are renewable.

Because CLTs are nonprofit, there is no motivation for the land to be resold. Instead, the land remains in the trust allowing affordability in perpetuity.

What Sets Us Apart

CARE CLT works not only to create housing, but to build homes that  households earning minimum wage can afford with no more than 30% of their gross income. The problem today is that the high cost of real estate along with the cost of construction makes affordability impossible.

To accomplish affordability, we are focused on empowering the land trust with the power of the people through mutual self-help. Through mutual self-help, residents work together to make improvements or to build homes.