One method of developing home ownership for people with disabilities is through the establishment of trusts. Since 1985, the number of housing trusts has increased more than fivefold in response to the growing demand for housing resources (Center for Community Change, 1989).
Housing trust funds are dedicated sources of revenue (e.g., real estate tax sales, interest on real estate escrow accounts) committed to the purpose of providing low and moderate income housing. They are generally established by local, county, or state government and are usually ongoing and permanent. Some housing trusts have been created on the state level though a budget allocation rather than an ongoing commitment of revenue (Center for Community Change, 1989). Families of people with disabilities can "buy into" these trusts. In addition, private trusts, established for the benefit of individuals or groups, may also include a housing component.
This section also includes a description of an additional type of trust--community land trusts. They promote community control of the land as well as affordability.
Though housing and land trusts have become increasingly popular, it is an alternative that remains relatively untapped for people with disabilities. This section includes several organizations that are potential resources to people interested in developing trusts in their areas.
The program began in Illinois in March 1988 as a product of research and support through the National Foundation for the Handicapped. The self-sufficiency trust (SST) is a comprehensive life-care planning option that can assist parents and families in meeting some of the long term support needs of their family members with disabilities without losing their governmental benefits. Families can invest modest sums of money in SST and income from the trust can then be spent for long term care, therapy and other services that the person may need. A segment of the trust fund is controlled by a Charitable Trust Fund which accepts residual and donated assets for low-income persons from private contributions, corporations and/or foundations.
SST has developed a computerized data base which they feel offers them the ability to help families prioritize what the person with the disability will need and what SST will be able to provide.
They can also pool information and assist groups of people or families with similar needs, interests and resources to work together. Another claimed benefit of such a computer-based system is in aiding the state to look at future service needs. One concern, however, would be that a computerized look at planning a person's future will not take into account individual needs and differences but only increase the systemization of the individuals with disabilities and packaging of their futures. Some families may prefer to establish individual trusts than use a statewide program. SST hopes to develop a nationwide demonstration model that will be adopted by every state.
The Housing Trust Fund Project (HTFP) is a clearinghouse of information about housing trust funds throughout the country and provides technical assistance to organizations and agencies working to create these funds. The Project promotes the involvement of neighborhood organizations to ensure that funds benefit those most in need of housing.
The Housing Trust Fund is a special project of the Center for Community Change, a non-profit organization in Washington, DC that provides technical assistance to organizations throughout the country. A variety of publications are available which address various aspects of creating housing trust funds.
The Institute for Community Economics is a private, non-profit corporation founded by community residents to remove land and housing from the market to ensure long-term affordability of housing while securing the control of the community over land. Community land trusts (CLTs) provide for a variety of community development activities including construction of new housing, rental housing, housing cooperatives and the rehabilitation of existing structures.
CLTs attempt to meet the needs of people least served by the existing market and prohibit absentee ownership of land and housing. Their goal is to promote ecologically sound land use practices and preserve long-term affordability of housing. CLTs buy or receive gifts of property. The Institute for Community Economics offers a revolving loan fund to communities interested in developing CLTs in order to finance acquisition and construction. The Institute may also cooperate with existing efforts already happening in a community.
The E. F. Schumacher Society is an organization committed to the development of environmentally protective economy at local levels. Among other activities, the Society assists interested groups (not social service organizations) to secure land through a community based trust approach. The idea is when land is community controlled it becomes more affordable and more justly allocated.
TITLE: The community land trust: A new system of land tenure
AUTHOR: Institute for Community Economics
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1986, June
This paper presents an overview of what a land trust is and
the principles that direct community land trusts. The article
takes the reader through a brief description of how the CLT works
in relation to problems of how we use our land today. It describes
advantages to such an approach.
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