Florida
Bright Community Trust
11923 Oak Trail Way, Suite 111
Port Richey, FL 34668
727-475-1366
frank@thebrightway.org
thebrightway.org
Purpose: To develop and steward affordably priced homes for sale and for rent; convene partners from business, nonprofit, government, academic, faith, and community sectors to address complex housing challenges like increasing homeownership and preventing evictions; connect with other leading organizations to address broader community needs that intersect with housing challenges: jobs, education, transportation, food, childcare; listen to data and community voices, and create and advocate policy solutions.
Background: In 2008, the Pinellas County government established Bright CLT as a subsidiary of the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County (HFA). This move came in response to the widespread conversion of newly developed affordable housing into market-rate housing. County housing officials recognized that the five to ten year affordability period mandated for county-sponsored affordable housing developments was insufficient. They turned to the community land trust model in order to create and maintain permanently affordable housing.
In 2013, Bright CLT became an independent 501(c)(3) organization, separating from Pinellas County. Since 2017, Bright CLT has expanded its regional housing efforts to Central Florida, Southwest Florida, and North Central Florida, with plans for further expansion. In tandem with their community land trust program, Bright offers homeownership training programs and housing counseling services.
Landholdings/Residents: stewards 500 affordable rental units, and has developed over 100 single-family homes for first-time income-qualified homebuyers.
Eligibility requirements for residents: income-restrictions vary by property, but primarily 80–120% AMI.
Governance structure: no open membership, and not following tripartite structure.
Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast
4938 Davis Road
Lake Worth Beach, FL 33461
561-318-8442
chewitt@cltofpbc.org
cltofpbc.org
Purpose: To increase the supply of affordable housing in Palm Beach County through land acquisition and housing development, creating a permanent supply of both rental and homeownership opportunities.
Incorporated: 2007
Land holdings/Residents: The organization has developed and maintains 61 permanently affordable homes and 80 multifamily units.
Eligibility requirements for residents: Homes are sold on a first-qualified, first-served basis to income-eligible, mortgage- and credit-worthy households with sufficient savings to cover the minimum applicant contribution required by the various programs that partially funded the CLT home. Income eligibility requirements are determined by the CLT’s funding programs.
Governance structure: The CLT of PBCTC uses a tripartite governing structure. The Board is comprised of lessee representatives (nominated by the CLT’s lessee members), general representatives, nominated by the CLT’s general members, and organizational representatives, nominated by the Board of Directors
Additional details: CLT of PBCTC provides homeownership training and assists clients with obtaining first mortgage financing from one of their partner lenders.
Communities That Care Community Land Trust
6031 NW 1st Place
Gainesville, FL 32607
352-262-9038
communitiesthatcareclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2018
Purpose: Affordable housing.
Land Holdings: Organizing to acquire land and funding.
Delray Beach Community Land Trust
141 SW 12th Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561-243-7500
dobson@mydelraybeach.com
delraybeachlandtrust.org
Purpose: Generate and preserve affordable housing for very low to moderate income households.
Background: In response to gentrification and the displacement of Black homeowners and renters within city limits, the City of Delray put together a task team charged with minimizing displacement. That task team commissioned a study by Florida Atlantic University, which suggested that Delray City consider community land trusts as a tool for redevelopment without displacement. While initially met with skepticism, in 2005 community stakeholders formed the Delray Beach CLT (DBCLT). The DBCLT has collaborated with other community non-profit housing and family support agencies to develop housing, and provide a wide range of services to DBCLT home owners and lessees.
Land holdings/Residents: 97 owner-occupied units, 47 rentals. Of the 97 owner-occupied units, all of the homes were newly built with the exception of two homes that were conveyed to them through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Both the City and the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (DBCRA) donated land to the DBCLT, and the City of Delray Beach provides additional subsidies to DBCLT home owners to further increase the affordability of the homes. Private grants and donations also assist with ongoing land acquisition, construction, and operational expenses. This has allowed DBCLT to pay back all but $200,000 on a 7 million dollar line of credit taken out in 2006.
Eligibility requirements for residents: Residents must not exceed 140% AMI
Governance structure: The DBCLT is governed by a twelve member tri-partite board of directors whose membership includes: one third current leaseholders, one third community residents, and one third other public and private community stakeholders.
Additional details: The CLT has a pipeline of mortgage-ready homebuyers that they are trying to accommodate; the challenge has been available land.
The DBCLT holds quarterly pre and post purchase homeownership workshops that are free and open to the public. They also conduct presentations for city government and at community events to increase awareness and excitement about the CLT. The DBCLT is part of the Florida Housing CLT Institute and the Florida Housing Coalition.
Florida Housing Coalition
1311 N. Paul Russell Road, B-201
Tallahassee, FL, 32301
850-878-4219
flhousing.org
Purpose: Assist government and non-profit entities with the development of CLTs.
Florida Keys Community Land Trust
PO Box 343529
Florida City, FL 33034
888-KEYS-CLT (888-539-7258)
info@affordablekeys.org
affordablekeys.org
Purpose: Create affordable workforce housing after Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys.
Land Holdings: Four cottages which are rented. In the process of obtaining more land and funding.
Partners
Media
Hannibal Square Community Land Trust
PO Box 364
Winter Park, FL 32790
407-643-9111
info@HannibalSquareCLT.org
hannibalsquareclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2004
Purpose: Preserve quality and affordability of housing
Land Holdings: 7 completed projects, 2 projects in development. The completed projects include both homes and rentals. Uses CLT renewable 99-year lease model to ensure affordability.
Partners
Media
- Hannibal Square Community Land Trust News
- Click Orlando: Apopka Orange County officials build new affordable housing development
Heartfelt Florida Housing of South Palm Beach County Community Land Trust
181 S.E. 5th Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33483
561-819-6070
info@heartfeltclt.org
heartfeltclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2010
Purpose: Permanently affordable housing in South Palm Beach County, hurricane recovery.
Land Holdings: 4.5 acres with 21 houses. Uses CLT homeownership model to ensure affordability
Jacksonville Community Land Trust
1225 W Beaver St
Jacksonville, FL 32204-1414
904-990-4663
info@jaxclthomes.org
www.jaxclthomes.org/
Purpose: To create homeownership options for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Jacksonville, improve neighborhood stability, promote economic development and build wealth while preserving affordable homes for future generations.
Background: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry created the Jacksonville CLT in 2022, and the CLT received non-profit status in 2023. Developers were buying affordable housing and converting it to market-rate apartments in the quickly-gentrifying city, and the City identified the CLT model as an effective mechanism for “locking in” affordable housing. In (WHAT YEAR) The city of Jacksonville passed first look legislation which gave the Jacksonville CLT the first option on all surplus properties and tax surrenders in the city.
Land holdings/Residents: They currently hold 20 vacant lots, with 75 lots available to them via Jacksonville’s first look legislation. Construction of the first four structures of the CLT is in its beginning stages. Primarily building 650-750 square foot tiny homes in order to keep the price point low for young people and seniors.
Eligibility requirements for residents: 80% AMI or below
Governance structure: no open-membership; board currently comprised of government technical advisors and local non-profit leaders. Hoping to reserve ⅓ of board seats for low-income residents or community members in the future.
Additional details: The city of Jacksonville passed legislation which gave the Jacksonville CLT the first option on all surplus properties and tax surrenders in the city.
Neighborhood Renaissance Community Land Trust
510 24th Street, Suite A
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
561-832-6776
info@neighborhoodrenaissance.org
neighborhoodrenaissance.org
Date Incorporated: 2005
Purpose: Affordable housing.
Land Holdings: 9 permanently affordable homes.
Governance Notes: Not an open membership organization; board of Neighborhood Renaissance (parent nonprofit) is appointed with one third being low-income community residents.
Partners
Struggle for Miami’s Affordable and Sustainable Housing (SMASH)
Miami, FL
adrian@smash.miami
smash.miami
Date Incorporated: 2014
Purpose: SMASH is a community land trust building power for housing and climate justice in Miami. We use a set of coordinated strategies we call the Power Building Ecosystem. It consists of:
1. Tenant Organizing
2. Transforming Opponents into Allies
3. Housing Tech R&D
4. Community control of land and housing
5. Policy Change
SMASH's current campaign is the Miami Housing Justice Agenda, a massive grassroots outreach, organizing and transformation initiative for Miami-Dade county to make housing a human right by the year 2030. We have created permanent infrastructure to conduct and track our long-term power building efforts including two affordable housing cooperatives for our 12 housing justice organizers, and our open source digital organizing platform, House of Justice.
Land Holdings: 2264 NW 63rd St, Miami, FL & 1611 NW 65th St, Miami, FL
Media Coverage:
2022-06-27 CBS 4 Coverage of Housing and Healing Justice Cooperative
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/
2022-09-19 Miami New Times Coverage of #SMASHWeek2022 and Housing Co-op Grand Opening
https://www.miaminewtimes.com/
2022-09-19 Miami Herald Coverage of #SMASHWeek2022 and Housing Co-op Grand Opening
https://www.miamiherald.com/
2023-03-12 Zetland Denmark Article on SMASH and Climate Gentrification
https://www.zetland.dk/
South Florida Community Land Trust
718 NE 2nd Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-769-1731
info@southfloridaclt.org
southfloridaclt.org
Date Incorporated: 2006
Purpose: Provide quality, sustainable, affordable housing for generations to come.
Land Holdings: 14 single-family and multi-family homes, both ownership and rental agreements available. Uses CLT renewable 99-year lease model to ensure affordability
Governance Notes: homeowners serve on board
Partners and Funders
