The Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) is making up to $4 million available from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support homeownership projects sponsored by Community Land Trusts (CLTs). Qualified applicants responding to this Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) can request up to $1 million per project. Qualified applicants working in more than one community can submit multiple projects for funding.

The Community Land Trust model is a nationally proven method to create affordable homeownership opportunities for households earning 50 percent or less of the Area Median Income. Under the model, a nonprofit organization owns the land and sells the home on the property to qualified buyers at a below-market rate. The land trust’s ownership ensures the home remains affordable for 99 years. When a buyer purchases a house from the land trust, they agree to only sell the home to a low-income household and split the equity with the land trust. This model keeps homes in the hands of the community, which helps it to carry out its long-term vision of assisting residents to build equity in their neighborhoods.

"The Community Land Trusts movement represents both a tangible and scalable strategy to help us build community power," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "This work will have an added impact on community development, land use, and affordable housing and can be transformative for our city. I'm pleased we are sustaining investment in this work with this NOFA."

Projects connected to this NOFA must support the City’s community development goals in DHCD’s Impact Investment Areas. DHCD is also issuing this as a "rolling" NOFA, which allows applicants to submit proposals at any time throughout the year. A rolling selection process will enable the City to provide year-round access to funding and quicker selection decisions to prospective CLTs.

"Creation of permanent affordable housing is a top priority for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund," stated Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy. "CLTs represent a place-based tool and an equitable development strategy to help us provide affordable housing options that will ultimately strengthen communities."

Learn More