Land access strategies
One of the most pressing ongoing concerns in Anderson Valley is the lack of sufficient affordable housing, in particular the scarcity of work-related housing for agricultural workers, teachers, and healthcare professionals. These groups, whose work is crucial to our community, struggle to find living situations that allow them to remain in the valley while maintaining the standard of living they deserve.
The Anderson Valley Housing Association provides strategies for:
people who are trying to find housing or land to live on comfortably and affordably in the valley
people with land holdings who would like to explore ways to provide housing opportunities for others
ADU (Accessory Dwelling units)
See our page on ADUs here.
collaborative/cohousing/intentional community/communal living
Collaborative/Cohousing/Intentional Community/Communal Living are collective living situations where groups get together to share housing and/or land in more or less communal settings. Four models that many Anderson Valley residents are familiar with are the Cheesecake, Groundswell, Emerald Earth, and Mendo Dragon communities. The degree to which such facilities are indeed communal varies. For example, Cheesecake is a cohousing arrangement of long standing, where members have no shared community economy. In other words, cohousing does not equal commune.
More information is available from:
The Cohousing Association of America http://www.cohousing.org
The Foundation for Intentional Community https://www.ic.org
Caretaking
Whether the owner of a parcel is living full-time in the Valley or not, sometimes there is already additional housing on that property. In a caretaking arrangement, families or individuals can utilize these spaces in return for an agreed amount of on-site work, for example: taking care of the garden, chopping firewood, or preparing the owner’s house for their arrival after time away from the Valley. This is a great way to house local people while also gaining a sense of security that your property is being well looked after.
AVHA is establishing a registry to match property owners with potential caretakers. Please contact us at info@andersonvalleyhousing.org if you are interested or would like more information.
Subdividing
Landowners with relatively large holdings may subdivide land in order to sell a parcel for prospective habitation. Anderson Valley owners wishing to make residential property available in this way will need to apply for either a subdivision or minor subdivision permit with Mendocino County’s planning department. Staff at the Ukiah office are informed and there to help you. The county provides more information on subdivisions, minor subdivisions, and how to apply at: http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/planning/pdf/Minor_Sub.pdf
community land trusts (clt)
Community Land Trusts (CLT) provide an interesting strategy for affordable housing within the community by separating ownership of the land from the housing located on that land. While the more familiar conversancy land trust seeks to protect rural land from development, CLTs are operated as non-profit organizations which acquire property on a community’s behalf, in turn leasing out those holdings (the land and/or the housing) at affordable rates. Leases can be for as long as 99 years, allowing tenants and their families the security of continuity as well as the incentive to maintain the property with a sense of ownership. CLTs and lessees generally share responsibility for the upkeep of the holdings.
One common method for the creation of a CLT is for an already existing non-profit to take on the project or to create a spin-off organization for that purpose; alternatively a new CLT can be created by community members. Funds for purchase must be gathered, lands found, target audiences identified, and of course the legalities completed; but the AVHA is happy to work with interested individuals to help make this happen. More information is available at:
rent to own
This process, for the more philanthropic landowner, entails renting property to residents whose payments are then applied to a pre-arranged sale price for the property. This strategy works for renters who would like to be home owners but cannot access usual financing; or for families who want to build their own home on the property while renting, to accrue capital to complete the land purchase. In the latter case, the renter owns the home but pays rent on the land with the intent of eventually owning the land.
If you have experience running a CLT, would like to learn more about affordable housing or feel you can contribute in any other way, we’d love to hear from you! Contact the AVHA today: info@andersonvalleyhousing.org.
We’re adding resources to our website all the time, so check back for more information. Or contact us if there’s a particular topic you’d like to explore.