The Central Iowa Community Land Trust, a new affordable housing model announced this spring, held its inaugural membership meeting on Nov. 13 in Des Moines, a next step toward the trust becoming operational. Members voted on key organizational matters, including the 2026 board of directors and membership dues, and ratified the trust’s founding bylaws, which were developed from national best practices, according to a news release. Project Manager Jaqueline Chico presented a slate of recommended board candidates who were noted for their expertise in innovative housing efforts. The trust’s goal is to provide long-term affordable housing in communities by buying existing homes or building new ones using one-time private or public monies. A Community Land Trust, or CLT, sells just the house to a homebuyer who qualifies for a mortgage while the CLT holds the land in a trust. When the homeowner wants to move, the home must be sold to another qualified buyer. To learn more about the trust, email info@ciclt.org.