Last night the Housing Alternatives group was priveledged to an excellent presentation on Community Land Trusts. I will post some of my notes from that presentation please add anything else you took from it.

There is a growing gap between housing prices and household incomes. As well as the increased potential for moderate and low income families to fall through the cracks. Calgary Community Land Trust (CCLT) exists because Calgarians need a Calgary solution.

CCLT is increasing the pool of affordable housing for those in need, including families, individuals, lone-parents, seniors, young adults, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal persons and new Canadians.

CCLT acquires land and holds it in Trust, in perpetuity to benefit the community. CCLT leases land to non-profits and charities through long leases (such as 99 year renewable leases). CCLT does charge a lease below market value to cover costs. They work with partners who will build and manage affordable housing. CCLT is concerned with the land and is not a developer or a manager of affordable housing.

Challenges for Land Trusts

Obtaining charitable status: CCLT took two years to complete this process, they made the decision to do so because they wanted to be able to accept large donations and offer receipts.

Awareness: in Canada there are less than 10 Community Land Trusts, and many of them are currently in-active. In the US there is over 400 active Community Land Trusts

Development of credibility and trust

Changes to Income Tax Act: Currently donations to land trusts for affordable housing are subject to Capital Gains tax while donations to land trusts for natural preservation are not.
Rob Anders, MP is putting forward a private members bill to change this.

Creating a sustainable organization

How can you help?

Donate land, buildings or funds to CCLT
Fundraising events and strategies
Supply leads to land and housing opportunities
Lobby for legislative changes
Support in promoting the Community Land Trust

Room to Grow

CCLT is looking at acquiring more land through school grounds either existing or designated land in new developments as well as City or Enmax surplus land.

CCLT is looking to work more with developers and architects and possibly creating relationships with housing co-operatives.

For more info check out

CCLT or CCLT
ICECLT - a US centre for supporting community land trusts with a how to guide (Laws are different of course)

I will also post some of the projects CCLT has or is working on.

a CCLT Project

Sun Court
• CCLT’s first housing project
• A 27-unit multi-family housing development in Dover
• Partners: Government of Canada, The City of Calgary, Habitat for Humanity – Calgary, Momentum (formerly MCC Employment Development)

CCLT received a donation of provincial land which was not suitable for housing but were able to trade it with the city for the land in Dover.

CCLT charges a $20 000 annually for the land, this works out to $60 per family per month and the units built by Habitat are about $85 000 for families whose household income averages about $30 000.

At Sun Court home owners also receive financial literacy training, homeownership training, family mentors and they belong to a community.

This model is seen as one that could be repeated over and over.

another CCLT project

Leo 7 Goldie Sheftel Court
• 12 town house units in Capitol Hill
• A continuation of the Sun Court Model
• Land donated by home Depot Canada Inc. with support from private donors
• Project developer is Habitat for Humanity – Calgary

When Home Depot bought the Highlander Hotel, a building with historical value, they were required to contribute to the community and decided to donate a ½ acre to affordable housing. The project is named after the family who built the Highlander Hotel.

one more CCLT project

Kootenay Lodge
• 10 – bed transitional/permanent housing for persons with spinal chord injuries
• Located in Martindale
• Named in honour of Beryl Kootenay

This project is in partnership with Calgary Homeless Foundation. The site was previously home to a day care.

This project has highlighted that Land Trusts need to focus on land as they do not have the capacity to be developers or managers of housing projects. CCLT is currently looking for an operator and funder for this project.

Edited by aj on Wednesday, December 06, 2006, 12:47 PM.

Last CCLT example

Holy Cross
• Feasibility study in progress
• Opportunity to develop affordable housing for seniors and families
• Integrated and supportive community setting
• Potential partners: Holy Cross Anglican Church, City of Calgary, Government of Canada