Our Impact

Building affordable homes, stable neighborhoods,
and long-term community investment in Madison.

Impact Snapshot

Creating permanently affordable homes for Madison families.

68+

HOMES
CREATED

131+

FAMILIES
SERVED

35

YEARS SERVING
DANE COUNTY

100%

PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE

How Community Land Trusts Create Lasting Impact

Public Dollars Keep Working

MACLT uses public investment to create permanently affordable homes. That impact grows over time because the home stays affordable for the next buyer, not just the first one. More than 120 families have already accessed affordable homeownership through MACLT.

Equity-Focused Homeownership

MACLT uses an equity-focused selection system designed to prioritize households historically excluded from homeownership opportunities. Since adopting this approach in 2020, the average buyer income has decreased from 60% to 49% of County Median Income, while the percentage of buyers of color has increased from 39% to 67%.

Wealth Building: A pathway from renting to ownership

MACLT homeowners build equity while maintaining long-term affordability for future buyers. Current homeowners have an average of approximately $58,000 in home equity, creating financial stability and opportunities that are often unavailable to renters.

Long-Term Support: Homeownership doesn’t end at closing

MACLT supports homeowners throughout their ownership journey by helping connect them with grants, maintenance resources, and fair lending options. Since 2021, MACLT’s maintenance program has distributed nearly $1 million in direct assistance to homeowners.

Stability During Crisis

Community land trust homeowners have had much lower foreclosure rates than conventional homeowners. After the 2008 housing crisis, only 0.46% of CLT homeowners went into foreclosure, compared with 4.63% of conventional homeowners..

Housing Security

MACLT homeowners often describe stability, autonomy, and predictable payments as the main reasons they value their homes. They are protected from rent increases and non-renewals.

More Than Housing

The land trust model can preserve land for community benefit beyond housing. At Troy Gardens, MACLT protects 26 acres of restored prairie, community gardens, and an organic farm managed by Rooted.

MACLT Neighborhoods

Madison Area Community Land Trust has built four neighborhoods, as well as single family homes scattered around the city of Madison.

Camino del Sol

MACLT’s first neighborhood development, Camino del Sol combined affordable homeownership with energy-efficient design and accessible housing features, earning national recognition for innovative community-focused housing.

Troy Gardens

Troy Gardens is a nationally recognized community that combines permanently affordable housing, urban agriculture, community gardens, and restored natural spaces. Developed through years of collaboration, the neighborhood blends sustainability, accessibility, and community-centered living in the heart of Madison.

Anniversary Court

Anniversary Court was MACLT’s first multifamily condominium development and remains a powerful example of permanent affordability in action. More than two decades after construction, these homes continue to provide affordable homeownership opportunities while allowing residents to build equity over time.

Single Family Homes

The Madison Area Community Land Trust has a growing number of single family homes in Madison neighborhoods across the city. While a couple of these scatter-site homes were new construction, most were acquired, rehabilitated, and added to the land trust one at a time with the support of the City of Madison.