Community
Land Trusts
In
the 1960s, ICE's founders developed the Community Land
Trust (CLT) concept as a way to encourage affordable
resident ownership of housing and local control of land
and other resources. For more than three decades, ICE
has promoted public understanding and acceptance of
this approach to ownership; has helped local groups
establish CLTs in a variety of urban and rural communities;
and has provided technical assistance and financing
to the growing number of CLTs around the country.
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What
is a CLT?
A community
land trust is a private non-profit corporation created to
acquire and hold land for the benefit of a community and provide
secure affordable access to land and housing for community
residents. In particular, CLTs attempt to meet the needs of
residents least served by the prevailing market. Community
land trusts help communities to:
- Gain
control over local land use and reduce absentee ownership
- Provide
affordable housing for lower income residents in the community
- Promote
resident ownership and control of housing
- Keep
housing affordable for future residents
- Capture
the value of public investment for long-term community benefit
- Build
a strong base for community action
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