We steward and build community-owned housing and spaces to bring and keep Altadena home.
In 2025, Altadena Earthseed Community Land Trust was conceived amidst smoke clearing from the Eaton Fire as a community-led and community-based vehicle to address the inequities facing Altadenans as our community rebuilds.
We are fire survivors, community members, and allies building pathways to community ownership in Altadena to recover from disaster in ways that are rooted in justice.
We seek to preserve the diversity of Altadena, with attention to Black, Brown, Indigenous, and working class communities who are particularly susceptible to displacement.
Unified by our shared love of Altadena’s vibrant community and the desire to preserve all that makes our home special, our goal is to restore community access to land for future generations to come.
We are using the community land trust organizational model to build community power and stay rooted.
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Support the work of the Altadena Earthseed Community Land Trust by making a donation today. All gifts are fully tax-deductible and will directly support our mission.
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What is a community land trust (CLT)?
A community land trust is a community-led non-profit that owns land to keep homes and spaces affordable, now and for the future.
The community land trust model was chosen due to its legacy in land justice and its ability to acquire and steward land in community with permanent affordability measures.
Check out this video from the Grounded Solutions Network to learn more about the history of community land trusts.
Why is a CLT good for Altadena?
A community land trust allows the community to have more agency, and design its recovery to allow a return to the land that is more equitable. For example, community members who were previously tenants or informal residents have the opportunity to organize towards collective ownership or apply for housing made permanently affordable through the CLT.
How does it work?
The community land trust is currently led by a Steering Committee and subcommittees of Eaton fire survivors, community members, and allies with technical expertise. Eventually, Board Governance comprised by membership of residents/lessees, community members, and supporting members will lead, and residents will have the most voting rights to ensure autonomy. The CLT remains accountable to maintain low and moderate income housing units to be permanently affordable, and it is up to the community to steward (care for in reciprocity) and tend to the land and improvements upon the land. The Board and Staff are responsible to keep the organization operating in good standing.
