Have questions?
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Below you will find answers to the questions we get asked most about affordable housing and the community land trusts.
PEOPLE’S HOUSING+
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You should submit a fully-completed application online or via mail. PH+ will review your application to determine if you meet our preliminary guidelines. You may be asked to send documentation that will verify income, employment, family size, etc. Eligible applicants will then be scheduled for an interview to discuss the program and next steps.
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The income guidelines are based on household size and household income set forth by The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
PH+ must consider the entire household income, even if only one member is purchasing the home. Income from sources such as jobs, self employment, social security, disability, unemployment, retirement, regular child support, and other recurring benefits are included.
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It varies and may take anywhere from 6 months to 2+ years depending on the applicant’s motivation, financial picture, such as credit score and savings, and flexibility with neighborhood preferences. In addition, PH+ pre-sells our homes. On most occasions, we find our buyers first and sign contracts when construction is about 60 days from completion. Construction takes about 6-8 months to complete.
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That depends. It is possible if we have more than one property available in a given program. If we have more ready buyers than properties available, PH+ uses a selection process based on predetermined preferences to decide the order of buyer lot selection.
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No, we currently only build in Orleans Parish.
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Area Median Income — often referred to as simply AMI — is a key metric in affordable housing. Area median income is defined as the midpoint of a specific area’s income distribution and is calculated on an annual basis by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
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Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are a unique model designed to make Homeownership more affordable and accessible for low- and moderate-income buyers. People’s Housing+ owns the land, so you only need to pay for the price of the house itself. Because we partner in the purchase of land and homes, buyers purchase at a lower cost — no matter the market rates — and we stay in partnership throughout their ownership experience, providing ongoing education in home finances and maintenance. Along the way, our homeowners build personal wealth. When the property is sold, they receive a fair return on their investment, and take this forward for their next moves, while ensuring that the home remains affordable for future buyers.
Check out this two-minute video from Grounded Solutions which explains CLTs.
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A community land trust works by acquiring land and holding it in a trust for the benefit of the community. The trust then sells homes or leases land to individuals or families, who are required to agree to certain conditions, such as maintaining the affordability of the property and limiting the resale price. This helps to ensure that the housing remains affordable for future generations.
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In a traditional homeownership model, an individual or family owns both the home and the land it sits on. In a community land trust model, the trust owns the land and the individual or family owns the home. This allows the trust to maintain control over the use and development of the land, and to ensure that the housing remains affordable for future generations.
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For the community, a community land trust can bring:
More affordable homes for people.
A say in what happens to the land in their neighborhood.
Homes that stay affordable for future generations.
Fair and sustainable development.
For individual homeowners, a community land trust can offer:
A chance to own an affordable home.
A stable and predictable cost of living.
A way to build wealth over time.
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A community land trust sets rules about how much a homeowner can sell their home for and by helping homeowners keep their homes in good shape. The trust also offers financing options to help people buy their homes and provides resources to help them keep their homes affordable for the long-term.
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Check out our website to see if you meet the eligibility requirements for homebuyers.
Submit an application to People’s Housing+.
After an initial call with our team, register for a homebuyer education program.
Review and sign a ground lease agreement.
Close on the home purchase.
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Community land trusts are usually funded by a combination of public and private sources, like grants, loans, and donations. The trust may also make money by selling or leasing homes.
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