A $40,000 grant has been awarded to the San Juan Community Home Trust by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the domestic anti-poverty program of the U. S. Catholic Bishops.

The Catholic Campaign supports programs where low-income people participate on the governing board of the organization, which makes it a good fit with community land trusts, since the trusts aim to have one-third of their board positions filled by residents of their permanently affordable homes.

The grant funds will be applied towards the operating costs of the Home Trust. Additionally, funds will be used to send homeowner board members to the fall gathering of the Northwest Community Land Trusts Coalition in West Glacier, Mont. in September.

A portion of the funds will also be applied to design costs associated with planning Phase 2 of Sun Rise, which is now underway.

The Home Trust has built 29 permanently affordable homes in two neighborhoods in Friday Harbor and has secured land for up to 106 more homes. Current plans are to add 12 more homes to undeveloped land off of Grover Street East, near the elementary school.

The National CLT Network was also awarded a $478,000 Strategic National Grant from CCHD to the support the growth of CLTs nationwide. This grant significantly increases the Network’s capacity to foster new community land trusts, expand nationwide advocacy efforts and develop resident leadership.