February 13, 2024

Immigration is increasingly shaping the demographic landscape of small and midsize cities across the United States. Without it, many metro areas would experience population decline as early as this year. Despite their key role, barriers such as low wages, lack of credit, limited eligibility for federal benefits, and language differences can prevent immigrants from accessing stable, affordable housing. Without intentional strategies to support and include immigrants, cities risk missing out on the full benefits of immigration and population growth. Research funded by the Housing Solutions Lab examines one potential pathway to support the socio-economic well-being of immigrants: community land trusts (CLTs). 

Led by researchers C. Aujean Lee, Shakil Bin Kashem, and Dwayne Baker, “Community Land Trusts in Welcoming Cities: Building Inclusive Housing Models for Immigrants” maps the national landscape of CLTs and analyzes how this landscape overlaps with immigration patterns and the geography of designated “Welcoming Cities.” The researchers also examined CLTs with immigrant-friendly features in Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, and Boise. Their findings underscore the potential–as well as the current limitations–of CLTs as a vehicle for immigrant stability through homeownership.

Read the full paper here.

Read more about CLTs, immigrant homeownership, and the researchers’ findings here.