ABOUT US
The Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc. (CLT of PBC) is a countywide housing non-profit organization created for the purpose of  providing permanently affordable housing opportunities for residents of Palm Beach County.  

The CLT of PBC acquires land and makes it available in perpetuity for affordable housing.  The CLT separates ownership of the land from ownership of the housing unit.  The housing units are sold to income eligible households at an affordable price.  The land is made available to homeowners through a 99 year land lease. 

HISTORY
The CLT of PBC was formed in early 2006 to help address the need for affordable housing in Palm Beach County. 

The effort to create the organization was initially spearheaded by Palm Beach County as part of their "affordable housing toolbox," but quickly became a community driven endeavor. 

The founding members of the CLT of PBC represented  a wide range of organizations including Gold Coast Builders Association, Palm Beach County League of Cities, Business Development Board, Business Forum of Palm Beach County, Florida Rural Legal Services, Community Financing Consortium, Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, inc., South Florida LISC, We Help Community Development, Inc., Fair Housing Center of the Greater Palm Beaches, Urban League of Palm Beach County, Housing Partnership, North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the School District of Palm Beach County.

The CLT of PBC was incorporated in 2006 and received a 501(c)(3) tax exempt designation in March of 2007.

 OUR MISSION

• Increase the permanent supply of affordable housing in Palm Beach County by undertaking the following activities:
  • land acquisition
  • housing development
  • preservation
• Create a permanent supply of both rental and homeownership opportunities.
• Develop the community land trust model as an effective tool in meeting the long term affordable housing needs of Palm Beach County residents.
• Create vibrant mixed-income communities.
• Undertake a client focused approach to community development.
• Create sustainable communities.
• Collaborate. 

 
Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc. Helps Family Accomplish Dream of Homeownership

West Palm Beach, Florida- On December 3, 2008, first-time homebuyer Brunhilde L. Watson purchased the 1st home being sold by the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc (CLT of PBC).  The CLT of PBC worked with another local non-profit, Life Improvement for Tomorrow (LIFT), and Palm Beach County in providing the client with down payment assistance and with Bank Atlantic in obtaining her mortgage.

Brunhilde Watson is a self-employed single mother caring for her 12 year old daughter, Melanie. Ms. Watson had been renting for over 20 years and was tired of constantly relocating with her daughter. Having all family members in Germany and none in the United States, she consulted a friend who gave her the number to LIFT. It was that one phone call she made that started the journey to homeownership.  LIFT immediately contacted the CLT of PBC once they realized Ms. Watson needed more than down payment assistance to purchase a home.

It was after attending a Community Land Trust Orientation held by CLT of PBC Staff that Ms. Watson realized how close she was to accomplishing her goal.  The CLT of PBC assisted her with obtaining a mortgage and provided additional subsidy needed to get her and her daughter into a brand new 3 bedroom, 2 bath, and one car garage home Ms. Watson and her daughter are grateful to the outstanding services received during this process and are thankful for the Community Land Trust model of homeownership. “If it wasn’t for the wonderful friends I’ve recently encountered during this journey, becoming a homeowner would not have been possible. Now I have something to leave behind for my daughter,” said Ms. Watson. She encourages others to follow the same footsteps of accomplishing the goal of homeownership.