Meanings of limited equity homeownership in community land trusts

Deborah G. Martin*, Azadeh Hadizadeh Esfahani, Olivia R. Williams, Richard Kruger, Joseph Pierce, James DeFilippis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Discourses regarding homeownership in the United States emphasize housing as an economic investment. This focus fosters a number of problems, including inflated housing values, increased segregation, economic divisions, and the foreclosure crisis. Community land trusts (CLTs) put land in a non-profit trust to keep it affordable long-term. We examine CLTs as affordable housing organizations where individual residents own homes in the trust and lease the land underneath from the CLT. Interviews of CLT homeowners and staff in Minnesota, USA, show that the use value of CLT housing creates opportunities for different life choices. CLT homeowners cite stability and autonomy as the primary benefits of homeownership. They expressed newfound confidence and freedom to pursue personal goals and live less restricted lives after moving into CLT homes, a finding also emphasized by CLT staff. Limited equity housing such as CLTs can both reinforce dominant meanings of homeownership as providing security and autonomy, while also fostering access and affordability for low-income residents.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-414
Number of pages20
JournalHousing Studies
Volume35
Issue number3
Early online date8 May 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • community land trust
  • Homeownership
  • housing affordability
  • housing investment
  • Minnesota
  • USA
  • use value
  • AMERICAN-DREAM
  • TENURE

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