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A trust is when something valuable—like money, land, or property—is legally protected for a specific purpose or group of people. A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a special kind of trust that holds land for the community to make sure it stays affordable and benefits future generations.
Community Land Trusts have deep roots in the Civil Rights movement of the 60s; the very first CLT was the New Communities land trust, formed and operated by black farmers in Georgia in 1969. CLTs are a way we can change our relationship to land and real estate and enable economic self-sufficiency for the people who are living and/or working on the land.
The CLT buys and owns land—this is the “Trust” part of the name. The land is held permanently so it cannot be sold to developers for profit.
The land and the home are owned separately. The CLT keeps the land, while a person or family can own the home on top of it. This is similar to a mobile home park, where homeowners rent the land beneath their homes.
Homeowners sign a 99-year Ground Lease, paying a small monthly fee to use the land. This removes land costs from homeownership, making housing more affordable.
Because the CLT keeps the land out of the real estate market, homes stay affordable forever—even if prices rise in the rest of the neighborhood.
When a homeowner sells their home, they agree to pass on the affordability to the next buyer. This is called a Shared Equity Agreement— it means that a portion of the home’s increased value is kept by the CLT, allowing them to “pay it forward” so that the next buyer gets the same help the first buyer got.
The CLT can also own multi-family buildings, working with tenants to keep rents affordable. In the future, renters may have the option to buy their units through programs like Tenant Opportunity to Own (TOPA).
Affordable rental housing
Community gardens & urban farms
Small business spaces
Public green spaces & conservation land
More and more, big corporations are buying homes in cash, outbidding regular people, and then reselling or renting them at sky-high prices. This pushes out long-time residents; younger generations can’t afford to buy in the neighborhoods they grew up in, and older generations struggle to afford to stay.
CLTs break this cycle. By keeping homes affordable, CLTs protect the fabric of the community.
This isn’t just about housing–it’s about keeping communities strong and intact!
CLTs are nonprofit organizations designed to serve their community, so they are therefore run by the community. Every CLT’s governance is different, but our San Gabriel Valley CLT is run by:
This check and balance ensures that the community has direct control over decisions about the land. Unlike private landlords or developers, CLTs are accountable to the people who live in the homes they provide.
By keeping land community-owned and permanently affordable, CLTs ensure that neighborhoods are places where everyone—not just the wealthy—can live, grow, and thrive.
CLTs follow government income guidelines based on the Area Median Income (AMI) set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Most CLTs serve families earning below 80% of the AMI, but our San Gabriel Valley CLT also supports disaster recovery for households earning up to 120% of the AMI.
Community Land Trusts. (n.d.). Grounded Solutions Network. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://groundedsolutions.org/strengthening-neighborhoods/community-land-trusts/
Davis, J. E. (2010). The Community Land Trust Reader. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
Homepage. (2024, February 22). California Community Land Trust Network.
Moore, T., & McKee, K. (2012). Empowering Local Communities? An International Review of Community Land Trusts. Housing Studies, 27(2), 280–290
https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2012.647306
The San Gabriel Valley CLT started in 2023 to fight for permanent affordable housing and community control of land. We don’t own any land yet, but we’re building the team and support we need to make it happen!
As of 2025, our leadership is composed of three main teams:
Board of Directors – The main decision-makers, composed of volunteer community leaders, who help lead and grow the SGV CLT
Advisory Council – Experts and community members who give advice and help us make smart decisions
Ambassador Council – Local residents and organizers who spread the word, educate others, and take action to fight for housing rights. They help our community understand housing policies, new laws, and ways to get involved..
We’re working hard to buy land and create affordable housing, but we need your help! Right now, we’re focused on teaching people about housing justice, building strong relationships, and making sure the community is involved in every step. You can help by volunteering with our Ambassador Council or Advisory Council, or by donating.
The San Gabriel Valley Community Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to provide and preserve affordable housing in the San Gabriel Valley. Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are a local, long-term affordable housing solution; CLTs are entrusted by their communities to keep land available at low cost in perpetuity. Donations to us are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Our tax ID number is 88-1302971.
We acknowledge that the land on which our homes are built has been the ancestral homeland of the Tongva and San Gabrielino peoples for thousands of years. Today, nearly 2,000 Tongva people continue to live in the Los Angeles area. We honor their enduring connection to this region and give thanks for the opportunity to live, work, learn, and worship on this sacred land.
Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are a local, long-term affordable housing solution; CLTs are entrusted to take care of land for their communities. Donations…
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We acknowledge that the land on which our homes are built has been the ancestral homeland of the Tongva and San Gabrielino peoples for thousands of years. Today, nearly 2,000 Tongva people continue to live in the Los Angeles area. We honor their enduring connection to this region and give thanks for the opportunity to live, work, learn, and worship on this sacred land.