Rooted Futures Land Trust protects land from speculation so communities can build and keep permanently affordable homes.

The problem

In too many communities, housing has become a financial instrument. Prices rise faster than wages, rentals disappear into short-term use, and “starter homes” turn into a myth. People end up choosing between debt slavery, unstable renting, or living in substandard structures.

Our solution

Rooted Futures is a Community Land Trust (CLT) model:

• The Land Trust owns the land (forever, in trust for the community).

• Residents own the home/building on that land.

• Homes sit on a long-term ground lease with clear rules that keep them affordable for the next person too.

• Resale is shared-equity: residents build some equity, but the home doesn’t “graduate” into speculation.

This is the “shared-equity ownership”: real stability + fairness, without turning land into a casino chip.

Who this is for

• First-time buyers and local residents priced out of conventional ownership

• Families, singles, and essential workers who want real housing, not survival housing

• Community members who want to protect local land and build something replicable

What “pro-decency” means here

We’re not here to normalize 1960s mobile-home quality, moldy renos, or “just be grateful.” Rooted Futures supports housing that is healthy, durable, and dignified—built to modern performance expectations with room for smarter alternatives.

How it stays affordable

• The land is removed from the speculative market.

• The ground lease sets rules for stewardship and resale.

• The resale formula allows some equity gain but prevents windfall flipping.

Short-term rentals policy

Short-term rental (Airbnb-style) use may be allowed only as an occasional, limited resource, never as the priority over long-term community housing.

Our structure

Legal form: Rooted Futures Community Land Trust Society
Public brand: Rooted Futures Land Trust
A master brand that can scale through local chapters:
Rooted Futures — Slocan Commons, Rooted Futures — Kootenay Commons, etc.

What we’re doing next

We are currently organizing:

1. Founding Members (governance + credibility)

2. Seed Supporters / Donors / Patient Capital (to acquire or secure land access)

3. Land Leads (owners open to legacy, sale-below-market, or partnership structures)

4. Builder + Professional allies (design, legal, accounting, planning)

What we’re asking for

• Become a member: help shape bylaws, governance, and pilot strategy

• Invest or donate: support land acquisition and early setup costs (patient, mission-aligned)

• Offer land / land lead: connect us with landowners aligned with long-term community impact

• Partner: professional services, development experience, funding relationships

Core promise: We keep land rooted in community so housing stays affordable generation after generation.