Community Land Trust in
Brussels
Brussels
• Capital of Belgium, capital of Europe
• 1.200.000 residents
Housing crisis
- 60 % tenants
- 39.000 social houses
(7,7% of the park)
- More than ¼ under
poverty line
- By 2020: demografical
boom (120.000 new
residents)
- Housing prices more
than doubled in 10 years
- 50.000 families waiting
for a social house
- Housing plan: 5000 new
social dwellings
Origins of CLT
movement in Brussels
- Actions against
housing crisis
- Solidarity saving
groups
- L’espoir
- Looking for new
homeownership
models
- Looking for new ways
to the right to housing
and right to the city
Steps to a CLT in Brussels
2008: Conference on
housing cooperatives in
France
2009: Visit to
Burlington
2009: Introduction of
the CLT model in
Belgium
2010: Charter for CLT in
Brussels
2011: Création of CLT
Platform
2011: Feasability study
for regional
gouvernement
2012: Subsidies for the
creation of a CLT
2013: First property
Building a CLT-movement
Why is there so many interest in CLT’s?
• Housing crisis
• Thread of gentrification
• Lack of effective answer from the classical housing
organisations
• Political goodwill and funding for new affordable housing
• Receptive for innovation
• Available tools for promoting homeownership: cheap
loans,…
• Neighbourghbood contrats: free acces to land
• Broad support from local groups and families in housing
need
• Partnerships with devellopement partners
Organisational structure
• 1 central CLT for Brussels
• Support from the Regional Gouvernment
• Double structure:
Non profit
organisation
1/3
community
1/3 owners
1/3 regional
authority
Foundation
Community involvement
• in close collaboration with existing housing
organisations, local organisations and
grassroots movements
• Membership through saving fund  saving
group
• Participation of futur houseowners and
neighbours in design and planning of houses
The first operations
Vandenpeereboom Molenbeek
- 32 units and community space on empty plot
- Saving group
- Builder: Social housing coorporation
- “Neighbourhood Contract”
The first operations
Verheyden Anderlecht
- Renovation of empty parish center (church)
- 7 apartments and community space
- Community garden
Outside Brussels
Flandres: first experiment
in the city of Ghent
Wallonie: Platform
www.community-land-trust.be