New Community Land Trust in SENC

[CF Housing Land Trust]

Exciting Initiative Announced for Affordable Housing

Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity (CFHFH) and the Affordable Housing Coalition of Southeastern North Carolina (AHCSENC) are pleased to announce a new initiative in affordable housing – the launching of the first Cape Fear Housing Land Trust (CFHLT).

“The City of Wilmington, City Council, The Affordable Housing Coalition of Southeastern NC, and dedicated citizens have worked diligently to make the dream of a community land trust a reality” notes CFHLT’s first Managing Director, Erin Diener. “Not only are we providing affordable housing for Southeastern North Carolina’s families today, but we are preserving land for future generations to enjoy the economic, social, and psychological benefits of home ownership. We could not be more proud to see this day finally arrive.”

A giant step was made towards this day several months ago when Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors voted to take the leadership role in the development of this Land Trust. “It has taken a long time to get to this point”, says Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director, Barbara Birkenheuer. “But, finally, she says the day is here.”

“Land Trusts have been springing up across the United States as another answer to the housing crisis we are seeing nationwide”, says Birkenheuer. “Several other Habitat affiliates have led the way in developing other Land Trusts so this seemed a natural fit for our affiliate to take the leadership role” she states.

“The development of a Land Trust has been a major focus of our Affordable Housing Coalition” says AHCSENC Chairperson, Carey Ricks. “It is an innovative and proactive approach to providing affordable ownership options.”

“The Land Trust model is a very simple one. It ensures that the home stays permanently affordable by separating the value of the land from the value of the building. Homeowners pay only for the house while the Land Trust holds the land the house is built on in stewardship as a community asset”, says Erin. “The land and the house on it will remain affordable for generations to come, while still allowing the homeowners the ability to build equity in their house.”

Linda Smith, Executive Director of AME Zion Housing Development Corporation comments, “Locally and nationally housing affiliates have been researching innovative ways to address the need for affordable housing. The formation of a Land Trust certainly moves forward in that direction. We are pleased to be a part of this endeavor and we look forward to serving the needs of more potential homeowners.”

Our local Land Trust will be a non profit organization whose mission will be to provide permanently homeownership opportunities and related educational resources to people of moderate means and to expand the inventory of affordable homes in the Cape Fear area.

Birkenheuer states, “We could not be more pleased than to have Erin Diener as our first Managing Director. She brings to the table a wealth of knowledge regarding land trusts and a strong desire to see the development of a successful land trust in our area.”

For further information or to become involved in this new initiative, please contact Erin Diener, Managing Director, CFHLT at 910-762-4744, Ext. 104 (erind@capefearhabitat.org) or Barbara Birkenheuer, Executive Director, CFHFH at 910-762-4744, Ext 101 (barbarab@capefearhabitat.org).

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