“CLTs are non-profit organizations that work with and on behalf of community residents to identify uses for the land based upon participatory planning exercises and collaborative decision-making.” – Kensington Market Community Land Trust
Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are space-based nonprofit organizations with an objective of creating a pool of affordable property that can be stewarded by the community for neighbourhood benefit. This allows the community to guide its own neighbourhood development, protect important spaces, and reinvest any equity into the wellbeing of its residents.
Generally, CLTs work by purchasing property and then leasing out that property at deeply affordable rates to community organizations on a long-term basis (eg. 99 years). Sometimes, the CLT will directly administer the property. Properties are most commonly used for affordable housing, urban gardens, or nonprofit operations, though this may differ depending on community needs.
Usually CLTs are membership societies open to all neighbourhood residents and other individuals to join. The classic CLT governance structure is a tripartite board, made up of an equal number of tenants from CLT-owned property; other residents that live in the neighbourhood; and “public interest” seats such as government representatives or technical experts. This unique governance structure is designed to ensure that community members are the dominant force on the Board of Directors, but that no single-interest group can steamroll decisions. Many modern CLTs have variations on this classic design, including the current DTES CLT governance structure.