We build forever affordable homes
The Home Trust is the only organization on San Juan Island dedicated to creating and preserving permanently affordable housing. Thanks to local donations and government grants, these homes never enter the open market.
We’ve built 49 homes across four neighborhoods: Salal, Sun Rise I, Sun Rise II, and HolliWalk. These homes have provided a stable foundation for 57 families and individuals, including 30 children.
Our homeowners represent all ages and work in essential roles throughout the community—schools, grocery stores, retail, construction, healthcare, and the arts. Many are self-employed, some are retired, and many contribute to the community through volunteer work, from firefighting to serving on nonprofit boards.
Our homes are durable, attractive, and energy-efficient, sold to low- to moderate-income island households. Large subsidies, made possible by grants and donations, keep these homes permanently affordable. The Home Trust manages resales, ensuring that each home remains within reach for future buyers.
How we do it
As a nonprofit, the Home Trust secures grants and tax-deductible contributions to subsidize land, infrastructure, and construction. Homebuyers obtain a mortgage for an affordably priced home and agree to limit the resale price, keeping it permanently affordable for working people.
The Home Trust operates as a Community Land Trust (CLT), separating the cost of land from the home itself. We retain ownership of the land, leasing the land to the buyers, while the homes are sold to income-qualified buyers, allowing residents to achieve homeownership, build equity, and pass their homes to future generations.
Our members and supporters are passionate about preserving our community through forever affordable homes. They know that Home Trust homeowners are essential to the island’s sustainability, and their involvement is crucial to the future of San Juan Island.