Community Land Trusts: Exploring civil societys role in reconciliation and the housing crisis

This research project aims to explore how civil society organizations in Metro Vancouver might devise Community Land Trusts that allow their property interests to intersect with their social mission. Metro Vancouver Alliance, a broad-based community organizing alliance of faith, labour, community, and education sectors, previously conducted listening campaigns identifying reconciliation and affordable housing as common priorities. Some MVA faith institutions have expressed interest in redeveloping their property through CLTs to serve this shared social mission. The research initiatives of this project will inform educational materials about CLTs that will be tailored to their specific interests and context. The research project will include a day-long public education conference for organizations interested in exploring CLTs. In addition to exploring CLT models for affordable housing, this project will also partner with urban Indigenous partners to explore possible ways to use CLTs as a means of decolonizing urban land ownership.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Ferguson

Student:

Audrey Guay

Partner:

Metro Vancouver Alliance

Discipline:

Urban studies

Sector:

Management of companies and enterprises

University:

Program: