The People's Community Land Trust

The Guild, Housing Justice League, and and the AFSC Atlanta Economic Justice Program (ATLEJ) are incubating a new Community Land Trust aimed at addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in Atlanta. Named the People's Community Land Trust (PCLT), this collaborative initiative involves removing key single and multifamily properties from the speculative market, thus permanently preserving the affordability of the units and converting units to ownership where possible. The PCLT’s strategy involves both partnering with residents facing displacement and identifying properties where residents face high displacement risk. 

The PCLT's first acquisition prioritized the relocation of Ms. Juliet Brown, a longtime community member who had been displaced from her home. The Guild has acquired a property in the Peoplestown neighborhood that will serve as Ms. Juliet’s long-term home, as well as a site for additional permanently affordable units to be constructed over the next 1-2 years. 

The most recent acquisition is 379 Elm St. in west Atlanta's Vine City, one of the city's oldest and most historically important communities, and also one of the most threatened by predatory investment. Tenants in the 9 apartment units at 379 Elm had been experiencing constantly increasing rents with little to no improvement, numerous evictions and poor property management conditions. The PCLT aims to decrease rents for existing tenants, ensure that rents for vacant units are prioritized for tenants with incomes at or below 30% of the Area Median Income, and partner with the residents at 379 Elm Street to proactively steward the 9-unit complex.

The People's Community Land Trust represents a collaborative commitment to addressing the challenges low and moderate-income residents face in Atlanta.