CHJC’s Community Land Trust Working Group is in the process of setting up Cambridge’s first Community Land Trust, which will provide permanent non-market affordable housing options in Cambridge. The Cambridge Community Land Trust (CLT) envisions a future where the community maintains collective control of land under its stewardship, and housing is decommodified. Toward that vision, the Cambridge CLT seeks to transfer and divert some property from the market into a community-led non-profit. Through these actions the Cambridge CLT would create and preserve sustainable, permanently affordable homes, promoting stable and inclusive neighborhoods. The CLT is on its way to becoming an independent organization with by-laws and a fiscal sponsor.

We developed a citizen’s zoning petition to allow the Affordable Housing Trust to fund municipal housing vouchers and facilities for the unhoused as well as requiring the Trust Board to include significant representation from impacted groups. Our petition team presented at hearings on that petition at the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee. Although the Petition was not adopted, we have played an important role in changing the conversation from whether there should be municipal vouchers to how and when they will happen, as well as improving representation on the Trust board and other reforms. Our Affordable Housing Trust Team is moving on to advocate for the voucher programs we think would be best.

Social housing is housing where the land is purchased and construction is paid for with government money, owned by the government, a nonprofit, or a partnership. Units are rented to people of all incomes, with subsidies for lower-income people. The income from high-income residents covers operating costs and new construction. Residents meaningfully participate in all decision-making and governance. Social housing ensures permanent affordability and community stability. Cambridge could initiate social housing projects either through state funding (pending in the Governor’s Bond Bill) or through the establishment of a city revolving loan fund, or both. Our Social Housing Working Group is advocating for social housing in Cambridge and exploring the constraints and possibilities of different funding and zoning models.

The City Council Housing Committee Co-Chairs are currently advancing a proposal to rezone all of Cambridge to end exclusionary zoning and to allow for-profit 6-story housing with 20% affordable units throughout the City. CHJC's public comment on this initiative has led to a greater focus on assuring that any zoning changes will benefit and won’t harm no- and low-income community members. City staff are supposed to draft and introduce zoning to the City Council in early September. The Planning Board and Council will then hold hearings on the zoning. Our Multi-Family Zoning Working Group is developing amendments and advocacy to protect and benefit no- and low-income community members and to achieve other important objectives.