Philosophy
Community Land Trusts (CLT) are an operational alternative approach to the private ownership of land and the individual appropriation of land resources in the form of rent or capital gain, source of inflation of property prices and inequalities in access to housing and land.
Finally, CLT beyond the notion of access to housing to the extent that his ambition is to allow the collective ownership and management of urban and rural areas which can also develop economic projects, cultural, social (including in agricultural areas). This is another model of governance of territory which is proposed here.
Principles and Mechanisms
CLT is based on five principles:
- Control of land in perpetuity: Land (Earth) is managed as common property by the CLT and remains accessible to future generations. For this, it is important to avoid speculation but organize a distribution of power in land management.
- Social homeownership: People receiving low incomes have access to the property.
- Social diversity and functions: all kinds of people (young people with disabilities, families, elderly …) have access to housing adapted to their needs in the same neighborhood or in the same housing complex. This area offers you different types 0f houses as well as shops, cafes, medical centers, post offices … according to the identified needs of the inhabitants.
- Governance with the inhabitants: Decisions concerning the evolution of housing, land and immediate services are taken in consultation with residents and the local community.
- Local dimension in relation to the neighborhood: The link with the area is very present. Indeed, the entire housing is designed in line with the neighborhood (pedestrian spaces, architectures, community spaces, parks, housing needs …). CLTs are often the direct initiatives of the local communities that are controlled democratically.
Three mechanisms
This philosophy stems three recurring mechanisms in CLT:
- Separation of the ownership of land and buildings
- Tripartite governance
- Anti-speculative mechanism
Mechanisms vary depending on the laws. However, “shared equity” or “shared ownership” is an interesting mechanism existing in the United States and England. It is a legal and financial system that allows a person to purchase a share in their home even if they cannot afford a mortgage on the entire purchase price. This formula is a third way between owning and renting.
CLTs in the world
The first CLT was established in Albany, Georgia 1969. It was a rural CLT born out of the struggle for the rights of black people. Access to farm land and housing was denied to this population. Historically, maintaining collective land ownership is the main engine for creating CLT. The first urban CLT saw light in Burlington in 1984 and ever since, the model is spreading across the world, in the cities as well as the countryside.
Examples of CLT networks: These networks help CLTs to emerge.
- National Community land Trust Network : CLT Network in the United States. The United States has over 250 CLTs. The model is seeing growing success, a success crowned by the United Nations in 2008 aimed at rewarding CLTs in countries. “Champlain Housing Trust” (Burlington, Vermont), the “World Habitat Award” price of best housing project in the world.
- Burlington Associates in Community Development LLC : National Cooperative. Created in 1993 is charged with providing advice to the Council for the Development of CLT and other homeownership strategies.
- National CLT Network : A CLT network in England. England now has more than 150 CLTs. This network has created a reference to support the development of CLTs in England.
Examples of CLT projects… a non-exhaustive List!
USA:
- Champlain CLT]]: The world’s largest CLT! In the ’80s, a wave of New Yorkers acquired villas on the shores of Lake Champlain, in the small town of Burlington, Vermont’s capital. Faced with this influx, the price of land and houses of the city went up. According to Brenda Torpy, current coordinator of the Champlain Housing Trust” How comes that our most beautiful landscapes are no longer accessible to our population?” So in 1984 the Mayor and associations came together and produced the first Urban United States Community Land Trust (CLT). Since then, the CLT manages more than 1,500 apartments, 500 housing acquisition and provides services to five housing cooperatives. This experience is available through a “Board book” or a law book on contracts and procedures to create a CLT.
- OPAL Community Land Trust : Founded in 1989, OPAL Community Land Trust was one of the first CLT in the western United States, in the state of Washington. OPAL CLT strives to maintain the character, vibrancy and diversity of the community of Orcas Island through land acquisition and the development of affordable homes in perpetuity.
- Anchorage CLT : Anchorage CLT was established in 2003 with the aim of revitalizing the Alaska Anchorage Mountain View located in the U.S. state.
Africa:
Kenya : Tanzania-Bondeni Community Land Trust and The Tanzania-Bondeni Community Lands Trust, Voi, Kenya
Video : CLT Kenya
In Canada:
- La Communauté Milton Parc : The CMP houses more than 1500 people with low and moderate income housing, in 616 houses from more than fifty countries. It includes 146 residential and two commercial buildings.
Australia:
Europe:
- East London Community Land Trust
- CLT in Brussels : https://cltb.be/en/
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