Barriers and Community Land Trust’s Strategies in The Preservation of Affordable Housing

Dr Maurice Udom ,Innocent I Weje

doi:10.7176/jees/9-3-02

Abstract

This study investigated housing affordability in St Minver and Brambleside Community Land Trust, Cornwall, England. The methodology adopted was the qualitative methodology. The study addressed the potential barriers as well as the strategies adopted in the Community Land Trust (CLT) in the preservation of housing affordability. In-depth interviews were carried out on members of the community comprising both home owners and tenants. Findings revealed barriers such as the rigidity and overly stringent bureaucratic structures which oversee and regulate the program, and the desire of landowners to make profit, while CTL’s strategies involve increased control over the resale of the houses and an emphasis on the purpose for its development for low-income earners. In conclusion it was stated that it is imperative to address these barriers in line with enabling quick decision making and ensuring the actual gains of the program are made available to its key targets Keywords : Housing affordability, Community Land Trust, House sale restrictions, Bureaucratic regulations DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-3-02 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Highlights

Debates within housing policy on housing affordability has over the last decade become one of the three main foci for housing research within developed countries (Megbolugbe, 1997), including the UK, where there is a shift from a housing policy centered on need to affordability (Whitehead, 1991)
The discourse on affordability is further reflected in the role of urban planning, identified as the tool for securing affordable housing (Whitehead, 2011); but, in reality, the exclusionary zoning planning regulations as applied in the US planning system are seen as a threat to low income households, where developments are beneficial to high income earners through low density housing typologies, creating the need for inclusionary zoning regulations where housing developments are to include some amount of affordable housing (Whitehead, 2011)
Studies carried out in UK and Australia on housing problems, led to reforms in the planning systems to reduce planning barriers in the supply of land and housing (Whitehead, 2011). The effect of this outcome is limited, as several researches recently still highlighted the challenges facing affordable housing (Mckee, 2012; Moore, 2014) and have projected the development of a model system aimed at providing access to land leased from non-profit organizations through ownership of buildings or improvements by members or residents of a community in achieving the dream of housing provision known as Community Land Trusts (CLT) (Bagdol, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Debates within housing policy on housing affordability has over the last decade become one of the three main foci for housing research within developed countries (Megbolugbe, 1997), including the UK, where there is a shift from a housing policy centered on need to affordability (Whitehead, 1991). The focus of study is on the barriers to affordable housing in community land trusts through perspectives of affordable home owners and tenants in local communities, the challenges faced in its operations and the strategies adopted by the CLTs in preserving housing affordability. This is paramount as previous studies (DeFilippis, 1999) have focused on the benefits and successes achieved by CLTs; an investigation into the existing barriers is justified on the basis of identifying and addressing the prevailing loopholes which stifle the progress and overall success of the program

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion