ABOUT BRCLT

The Big River Community Land Trust is a 501-c3 nonprofit corporation whose mission is to develop and steward a stable supply of permanently affordable, sustainably built housing which preserves the dynamic character and diversity of our central gorge communities.

  • Why BRCLT?
    The central Gorge has a housing crisis. Most of our area’s workforce can no longer afford to live here. We want to solve this problem through the community land trust model which focuses on home ownership, perpetual affordability and stewardship.

  • What does BRCLT do?
    We build affordable homes to provide home ownership for households earning between 80% to 120% of the area’s MFI (Median Family Income) per year. In Klickitat County, that means a family of 4 making between $56,480 and $84,720. In Hood River County, that’s a family of 4 making between $60,160 and $90,240.

  • What’s special about a Community Land Trust?
    The homes we build will maintain their affordability forever through land ownership and stewardship of the trust.

  • How do we sell homes at an affordable price?
    The Community Land Trust (CLT) model allows homebuyers to buy the home on top of the land, but not buy the land. The CLT retains ownership of the land. The homebuyer pays a small lease fee to the CLT for the land. This leasing of the land allows the CLT to keep some control over future sales, and sales prices, of the home. Specifically, a ‘Resale Formula’ is agreed upon up front with the buyer – so when it’s time to sell, the buyer can make a profit but probably not as much as a market rate home.   The lease also allows the CLT to ensure that the next buyer is also in the 80%-120%MFI range – thus keeping the home affordable forever.

  • Where can an Interested Buyer get more information?
    Our Interested Buyers Page has all the details about eligibility criteria, to join our mailing list, or to get on the Interested Buyers list.

Mission Statement

BRCLT aims to develop and steward a stable supply of permanently affordable, sustainably built housing which preserves the dynamic small town character and diversity of our central gorge communities.

More about the need for local housing and our housing crisis…

A 2015 Hood River Housing Needs Analysis found that nearly one third of Hood River’s households were unable to afford their current housing, with roughly 40% of renters unable to afford their housing costs. The same analysis found that approximately 2,000 new residents will need more affordable housing options over the next 20 years.

Similarly, the median home price in White Salmon was $647,500 in 2021.  This is unattainable even for those above the median income. The rental market is also experiencing a very low vacancy rate and high rents, untenable for most of our residents.

Large employers and small businesses are struggling to find and retain employees. Local schools can’t house their teachers, affecting our local school districts and enrollment. Much of our workforce is forced to commute from further and further out, creating employee instability, turnover, and lack of connection to the community. The cultural and social fabric of our community is at risk. Fewer and fewer locals are able to contribute fully in our community and lead healthy, happy lives.

MAKE “HOME SWEET HOME” A REALITY

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