On March 4th, Skagit County celebrated the new community land trust (CLT), the Home Trust of Skagit, with over 50 members and guests, appointing a transition board for the organization as it applies for its own nonprofit status, enrolling its first members, and lining up its first potential home buyers. With SCCAA’s support and startup funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Home Trust of Skagit is already building opportunities for people who might otherwise be priced out of the real estate market, to be able to own their own home.

 

CLTs like the Home Trust offer a balanced approach to ownership: the nonprofit trust owns the land and leases it for a nominal fee to individuals who own the buildings on the land. As the home is truly their own, it provides the homeowners with the same permanence and security as a conventional buyer, and they can use the land in the same way as any other homeowner. CLTs help low and moderate income families benefit from equity built through homeownership, and at the same time preserve the affordability of these homes so that future residents will have the same affordable homeownership opportunities.

 

The CLT model was recommended by Skagit county leaders who have met since 2006 when SCCAA organized a community forum on affordable housing, and created a Board housing advisory committee. Their findings included priority housing needs and barriers, priority populations to serve, and key partnerships in creating affordable housing. SCCAA secured major funding through Paul Allen, as well as local 2060 support, HUD Technical Assistance, and technical assistance from Julie Brunner of OPAL CLT, and other CLT participation through NW CLT Coalition Capacity Building Institute to develop the organization. SCCAA has also secured ownership of an affordable housing complex in La Conner, which may be the site of the first CLT homes.

 

The momentum continues with potential projects already being reviewed in La Conner, Anacortes, and Hamilton. The Home Trust of Skagit believes that home ownership gives people opportunity to build better lives. More information on CLTs can be found at www.cltnetwork.org and www.burlingtonassociates.com or contact Kari Russom/Home Trust of Skagit at karir@skagitcap.org.

 

 

 

Pictured from left to right are Wayne Wener, Kari Russom, Jim Duffield, Carol Taylor, Lynn Christofersen, Gabriel Olmsted, Cathie Wyman, David Hall, Maile Keli'ipio Acoba, Lauren Tracy, and John Cheney.  Not pictured are Margaret Fleek and Linda Sanford.