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There is a seemingly endless search for solutions to the housing affordability crisis we’re experiencing in our region. Given the nature of the problem, there is no single solution. So the way forward is to develop a strategy that utilizes a number of different elements.

One that has had success in Los Angeles and other cities is the use of community land trusts (CLTs). These are community-based nonprofits that over time buy property, usually either vacant/underutilized land or with existing older housing stock. They are democratically run, with residents owning equity shares in the trust that owns the property. They make decisions regarding use of their land that prioritizes the community’s interests in affordability and historic-resident protection. The advantages are that CLTs and cooperative ownership ensures that the community controls the rules of ownership and living conditions for the long term.

Of course, the big issue is who will fund these initiatives. In L.A. there are numerous examples of land trusts and cooperative ownership structures (Trust South LA, Los Angeles Eco-Village, etc.) that have gotten their start through philanthropic and affordable housing funders. And a few community development organizations in Portland have had success using similar funding sources. Now both the city of Portland and Metro have passed bond measures that give the region significant local resources for preserving and upgrading older housing, and building new housing. It would seem to make a lot of sense to use public resources to fund the right types of housing in the right places using ownership structures that will be affordable to the full spectrum of residents in perpetuity rather than rely on the volatile and unpredictable private market. The opportunity is there to prioritize quality housing while providing community stability and equity for first-time homeowners.