Durham Community Land Trustees

What Durham Community Land Trustees does

Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community land trust founded in 1976 (formally chartered in 1987) and headquartered at 1208 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, NC. DCLT develops, owns, and manages permanently affordable and ADA-accessible housing for low-to-moderate income households in Durham County, operating through a community land trust model in which DCLT retains ownership of the land while selling the home to qualified buyers (≤80% AMI) under a 99-year renewable land lease. A shared-equity resale formula credits homeowners with 25-45% of appreciation, preserving affordability across generations.

DCLT's core offerings comprise two product lines: (1) the Permanently Affordable Homeownership Program using the shared-equity CLT model, and (2) Income-Restricted Rental Housing at 60% AMI (affordable) and 80% AMI (workforce). Supporting services include free HUD-certified Homebuyer Information Sessions in English and Spanish (COMPRAR Home). Active development projects span Guthrie Village (modular shipping-container veteran housing with Volunteers of America), EcoGrace Durham (8 net-zero Living Building Challenge residences), Anderson Street (48+ units, ARPA-funded), Grant Street (including the first CLTplusOne ADU), and East Point Phase II (10-unit rental preservation). Revenue is generated from one-time home sales, recurring monthly land-lease fees, recurring rental income, and donations/grants from foundations, corporations, and government entities (NeighborWorks America, Wells Fargo, NALCAB, City of Durham, Durham County, Duke Energy, Burt's Bees, Triangle Community Foundation, among others).

The organization is governed by a tripartite board (one-third land trust residents, one-third community representatives, one-third public representatives) and operates as a chartered member of NeighborWorks America. To date DCLT has stabilized and revitalized 370+ housing units serving more than 1,000 low-to-moderate-income families across 8+ Durham neighborhoods (Central Durham, West End, East Durham, Southside & Hayti, Lakewood Park, EcoGrace), with rent payments processed digitally via Zego (which also reports on-time payments to credit bureaus).

Name

Durham Community Land Trustees

Legal name

Durham Community Land Trustees, Inc.

Website

https://dclt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Durham Community Land Trustees is a 501(c)(3) community land trust founded in 1976 that develops and manages permanently affordable homeownership and rental housing for low-to-moderate income households in Durham County, NC, using a shared-equity model across 370+ units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing / Community Land Trust Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Residential Property Managers (531311), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)

SIC

Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Community land trust
• Shared-equity homeownership
• Income-restricted rentals
• Workforce housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Home Sales (Shared Equity Homeownership): DCLT sells homes to income-eligible buyers at below-market prices while retaining land ownership. Homeowners share a percentage of appreciation (25-45%) with future buyers at resale, ensuring long-term affordability. This creates a sustainable model where the home remains permanently affordable across generations.
2. Land Lease Fees: Homeowners pay a monthly land lease fee to DCLT for the 99-year renewable land lease. This provides ongoing revenue while keeping homes affordable.
3. Affordable Rental Income: DCLT manages rental properties with income-based rents (60% AMI for affordable rentals, 80% AMI for workforce rentals). Revenue comes from monthly rent payments from tenants.
4. Donations and Grants: DCLT is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that receives charitable contributions, donations, and grants from individuals, businesses, foundations, and government entities to support development projects and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DCLT is a nonprofit community land trust that develops, manages, and advocates for permanently affordable and ADA-accessible housing in Durham, North Carolina. DCLT retains ownership of the land and sells homes to income-qualified buyers under 99-year renewable ground leases with appraisal-based shared-equity resale formulas (homeowners retain 25–45% of appreciation). It also operates income-restricted rental housing at 60% AMI (affordable) and 80% AMI (workforce) levels. Supporting offerings include free HUD-certified homebuyer education sessions (English and Spanish), the CLTplusOne ADU pilot, modular veteran housing (Guthrie Village), net-zero homeownership (EcoGrace Durham), and solar and green-infrastructure sustainability programs.

Product overview

Durham Community Land Trustees (DCLT) is a nonprofit community land trust organization offering permanently affordable housing through a dual model of homeownership and rental programs. The core offerings include: (1) the Homeownership Program using a shared-equity CLT model where DCLT retains land ownership and homebuyers purchase homes at below-market prices with resale restrictions ensuring long-term affordability; (2) Income-Restricted Rental Housing at 60-80% AMI levels. Supporting services include Homebuyer Information Sessions (English and Spanish via COMPRAR Home). Current housing developments include CLTplusOne (ADU pilot), Guthrie Village (modular veteran housing), EcoGrace Durham (net-zero construction), Anderson Street (48+ unit development), and Grant Street. Sustainability initiatives include LMI Solar Projects, Ashe Street Green Infrastructure, and Hayti Branch Creek Restoration. A digital service via Zego enables online rent payments with credit reporting to help tenants build credit history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Permanently Affordable Homeownership Program Community land trust homeownership program where DCLT retains land ownership and homebuyers purchase homes at below-market prices; resale restrictions under a 99-year renewable ground lease with a 25–45% shared-equity appreciation formula keep the homes permanently affordable across generations. Open to households at or below 80% AMI for Durham County.
• Income-Restricted Rental Housing Income-restricted rental apartments managed by DCLT for households at 60% or below AMI (affordable) and 80% or below AMI (workforce). Includes Anderson Apartments and scattered-site rentals across Durham neighborhoods. Accepts Section 8 Housing Choice and VASH vouchers.
• Homebuyer Information Sessions (English) Free HUD-certified homebuyer education sessions explaining the community land trust model, purchase process, eligibility requirements, and down payment assistance programs. Held every Saturday at 11:00 AM via Zoom (on-demand) and every third Wednesday at 12:00 PM.
• CLTplusOne (ADU Pilot Program) Innovative program pairing a permanently affordable land trust home with an affordable rental Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on the same lot to maximize scarce land resources and gently add density to existing neighborhoods.
• COMPRAR Home (Spanish Buyer Sessions) Spanish-language homebuyer education sessions with additional lender and realtor support for Durham's Hispanic community.
• Guthrie Village (Veteran Modular Housing) Veteran housing development featuring new 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units constructed with modular shipping containers, ADA accessible with Universal Design Principles and sustainable building practices. Partners with Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas for veteran-tailored supportive services.
• EcoGrace Durham (Net-Zero Sustainable Homeownership) Sustainable homeownership project offering 6 for-sale and 2 rental units adhering to Living Building Challenge standards for net-zero construction with ADA accessibility. Five lots donated by the City of Durham.
• Anderson Street New Construction New construction project developing 48+ units of homeownership housing on 2.28 acres acquired August 2024.
• Grant Street New Construction New construction rental and for-sale homes on Grant Street featuring ADA accessibility on the first floor and universal design, including the first CLTplusOne home.
• LMI Solar Projects Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Grant Program for Residential Solar PV Systems installing solar panels on DCLT rental units to reduce energy cost burden for tenants.
• East Point Phase II (Rental Preservation) 10-unit endeavor combining rental rehabilitation and new construction duplexes across Lathrop, Guthrie, Drews, Park, and Ashe Streets. Partners with VOANS (Volunteers of America National Services).
• Rent Payment and Credit Reporting (Zego) Online rent payment platform enabling automatic rent payments for DCLT tenants and reporting on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus to help build tenants' credit history.

Quantifiable outcome

• 370+ housing units stabilized and revitalized
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NeighborWorks AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025DCLT is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America, a national organization that provides resources, training, and recognition to community-based housing organizations. NeighborWorks America awarded DCLT an innovation grant in September 2020 for the CLTplusOne ADU pilot program.
• City of DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Durham is a key partner providing land donations, funding, and regulatory support. Donated 5 vacant lots for EcoGrace Durham project and $500k toward the project. Transferred deed for Grant Street project (August 2024).
• VOANS (Volunteers of America National Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOANS is partnering on East Point Phase II project for rental preservation and new construction. Also partner on CLTplusOne ADU program development.
• Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOACC provides supportive services for veterans at Guthrie Village, including services tailored to the unique needs of veterans in affordable housing.
• UnidosUSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CLTplusOne ADU program development, providing expertise on Latino community housing needs.
• ModulecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerModule provides modular construction expertise and training. Hosted Mission-Driven Developer Training with Module in November 2025, advancing sustainable affordable housing solutions.
• Volunteers of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CLTplusOne ADU program development and veteran housing initiatives.
• NALCABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for EcoGrace Durham project and broader organizational capacity building.
• Community Empowerment Fund (CEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEF and DCLT work together to open access to equitable financial services through matched savings programs, one-on-one coaching, and positive rent reporting to build tenants' credit history. Manages a Community Resource Database.
• DHICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHIC provides HUD-certified homebuyer education courses locally. DHIC is a regional housing organization serving North Carolina.
• El Centro HispanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCLT partnership with El Centro Hispano to better serve Durham's Hispanic community. COMPRAR Home program offers Spanish-language homebuyer sessions at accessible community locations.
• ECWA (Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner for Ashe Street Green Infrastructure project.
• Habitat for Humanity of DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on modular housing innovation and affordable housing solutions in Durham.
• Keep Durham BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of 2025 Garden Tour, collaborating on community beautification efforts.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that develops and finances affordable housing across the U.S., including through CLTs and community development ventures. Operates at national scale with broader programmatic reach than a single-metro CLT like DCLT.
• Mercy Housing: One of the largest national nonprofit affordable housing developers and operators, with a portfolio of tens of thousands of units across multiple states. Overlaps with DCLT on rental housing for low-income households but operates at much greater scale and does not use the CLT shared-equity model.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution that finances affordable housing, including CLT and shared-equity programs. Operates as a capital and capacity partner rather than direct developer, but shares DCLT's affordable housing mission across multiple markets.

Direct peers

• DHIC: Durham-based regional housing nonprofit providing HUD-certified homebuyer education and affordable housing services. DCLT explicitly partners with DHIC for homebuyer education and is a comparable same-mission, same-market peer.
• Burlington Community Land Trust: Direct CLT peer operating in Burlington, NJ area with the same shared-equity resale formula and 99-year ground lease structure. Comparable mission, scale, and customer base (income-eligible homebuyers and renters in a single regional market).
• Habitat for Humanity of Durham: Affordable homeownership nonprofit operating in the same Durham, NC geography. DCLT explicitly partners with Habitat Durham on modular housing innovation and affordable housing delivery, making it the closest same-market peer despite the different ownership structure.
• Champlain Housing Trust: Burlington, Vermont-based community land trust, widely recognized as the largest CLT in the United States. Operates the same shared-equity homeownership and rental model that DCLT uses, serving a similar low- and moderate-income resident base with permanent affordability.
• Homestead Community Land Trust: Seattle-area CLT using shared-equity resale restrictions to keep homes affordable for low-income buyers. Same core model and resident profile; useful benchmark for a mid-sized single-metro CLT.
• Community Land Trust of West Marin: Long-established California CLT using the same shared-equity, land-lease model to preserve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. Directly comparable in structure and methodology, though operating in a higher-cost coastal market.

Others

• Grounded Solutions Network: National membership and policy network for community land trusts and shared-equity homeownership organizations. DCLT operates within this ecosystem; relevant as an industry infrastructure / peer-organization rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DCLTNC
• Facebookfacebook.com/DurhamCommunityLandTrustees
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durham-community-land-trustees-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Durham Community Land Trustees