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On Friday, May 15, communities around the world will celebrate World CLT Day, a global recognition of the power of community land trusts (CLTs) to create permanently affordable housing, strengthen neighborhoods, and keep land in community hands. This year marks the fifth annual World CLT Day.

Community Home Trust is proud to be part of this growing movement. For more than three decades, Community Home Trust has helped make homeownership possible for local individuals and families through the community land trust model — ensuring homes remain affordable not just for one homeowner, but for generations to come.

We’re also proud to champion the growing community land trust movement in our state as one of the first members of the North Carolina Community Land Trust Coalition, a statewide network of community land trusts united to share resources, shape housing policy, and create homes that stay affordable for the long term. Learn more about the coalition at nccltc.org.

At the heart of our mission is a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to live in the community where they work, contribute, and build their lives. By separating the cost of land from the cost of the home, the CLT model creates a pathway to stable, affordable homeownership in a housing market where rising prices continue to put pressure on working families.

Today, with 300 affordable homes and growing, CHT continues to help educators, healthcare workers, nonprofit staff, public employees, service workers, and many others put down roots in the Chapel Hill and Orange County community. In addition to offering attainable homeownership, we support long-term community stability, helps prevent displacement, and preserves affordability for future homeowners.

World CLT Day is also a chance to celebrate the people who make this work possible, homeowners, residents, supporters, public partners, and neighbors who believe in building a more inclusive and sustainable community together. Their partnership and commitment are what allow us to continue expanding opportunities for affordable homeownership locally. You can read stories of some of these wonderful folks on our blog.

As we celebrate World CLT Day 2026, Community Home Trust proudly stands alongside the global community land trust movement. We remain committed to permanent affordability, supportive stewardship, and creating a future where more people have the opportunity to thrive in the communities they call home.