Events

Building Community with Community Land Trusts

Managing Community Land Trusts

Hosted By

Community land trusts (CLTs) are nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. This discussion will explore the practical aspects of managing a community land trust. Participants will learn more about the essential components of a CLT, including board and resident responsibilities, property and community oversight, ground leases, financing mechanisms, and the nuances of purchase and resale requirements. This webinar is part of a three-part series, Building Community with Community Land Trusts.

Building Community with Community Land Trusts

-Community Land Trusts 101
December 11, 2025

-Community Land Trusts of Connecticut 
January 14, 2026

-Managing Community Land Trusts
February 11, 2026 

Community land trusts acquire and steward land and ensure the homes on the land remain affordable. They separate the ownership of land from the ownership of the homes or buildings, allowing people to purchase homes at lower prices while the CLT retains ownership of the land. This model helps prevent displacement, supports neighborhood stability, combats gentrification, and promotes development.

This webinar series is designed for those already involved with community land trusts, as well as those who are just beginning to explore the concept. The series will cover the basics of CLTs, explore how to manage them, examine different CLT models, and empower attendees to implement them. These webinars are hosted by the Housing For All Alliance, a statewide network of neighbors, resident leaders and organizations working together to build local power and advance housing justice in Connecticut. 

Speakers

  • Brenda Torpy Lead Consultant

    Champlain Housing Trust

  • Alex Kolokotronis (Moderator) Director

    Naugatuck Valley Project

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Brenda Torpy, Champlain Housing Trust

Brenda served as Burlington’s Director of Housing for then Mayor Bernie Sanders and Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Program and Policy Development Director and has, over her 45 years’ experience in the field that included rural community organizing and development, advanced the community land trust model at local, national and international levels. She established and led CHT, the largest US CLT for 29 years, was chair of the National CLT Network, a founding Board Member and Officer of its successor, Grounded Solutions Network and since 2005, has helped to export the model to England, Canada, Belgium and France through direct TA and trainings. Under her leadership CHT received the 2008 UN World Habitat Award. Brenda was a Ford Foundation Leader for a Changing World in 2001, is the Co-President of the International Center for CLTs, and past member of the Boston Home Loan and Federal Reserve Banks’ Advisory Committees, and the Vermont Governor’s Housing Council.  Since 2021, Brenda is TA\ CHT’s Lead Consultant working with cities and groups on CLT development throughout the US and abroad.  

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Hosted in partnership with

  • Naugatuck Valley Project

    Founded in 1983, the Naugatuck Valley Project is a network of 23 dues-paying congregations, local labor unions, housing cooperatives, and ethnic organizations.  The NVP’s leaders and members work together to build power to affect systemic change for the improvement of their local communities. The NVP builds its power through intentional relationship building, leadership training, issue exploration, and direct-action activities. 

  • All In Alliances

    All In is a network of grassroots alliances in a growing number of Connecticut cities and towns, where neighbors work together across their differences to make it possible for everyone to have a home, food, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. 

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You know what needs to change. We can help you make it happen.

The Center for Housing Opportunity convenes a vast partner network of engaged residents and organizations to work towards a better housing future in Connecticut. Join our efforts to preserve, produce, and protect housing that is affordable for all.

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