San Francisco Community Land Trust
How San Francisco Neighbors saved 320 14th Street
The Model
What is social housing?
Social housing is publicly or community owned, mixed-income housing that stays affordable forever — protected from real estate speculators and corporate landlords. It's not a program. It's a system.
California's housing crisis won't be solved one project at a time. Building a few affordable units here and there creates islands of affordability in a sea of speculation. We need a social housing system.
Social Housing Models
Four ownership and governance structures that hold land or buildings outside the speculative market.
Community Land Trusts
Nonprofit organizations that hold land in perpetual trust — keeping homes affordable for generations and not just a fixed term.
Public Housing Authorities
Government-owned and operated housing that serves residents at all income levels with stable, long-term tenure.
Limited-Equity Co-ops
Resident-owned housing where equity gains are capped, preserving affordability for future buyers and members.
Social Purpose Developers
Mission-driven nonprofits that develop and operate permanently affordable housing outside the for-profit market.
Social Housing Principles
The values that guide social housing projects across every model.
Permanently Affordable
Unlike time-limited subsidized housing, social housing stays affordable in perpetuity because it's structurally removed from speculation.
Under Community Control
Residents and the broader community hold real decision-making power through boards, tenant unions, and councils — not just advisory roles.
With Tenant Security
Strong protections — just-cause eviction, secure leases, and the right to stay long-term. Housing can't be taken away on the whim of a landlord or speculator.
Mix of Incomes
Social housing serves people across the income spectrum. Blending low-, moderate-, and middle-income households keeps communities economically integrated and politically resilient.
Watch & Learn
The Alliance for Housing Justice explains social housing in two minutes — in English and Spanish.
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