Community Land Trust Brussels (CLTB) is a pioneering organization established in 2012 to address the acute housing crisis in Brussels, where home prices doubled between 2000 and 2010. Inspired by the Community Land Trust model, CLTB focuses on providing affordable housing for low-income residents through an innovative system of separating land ownership from housing ownership. This structure ensures permanent affordability by collectively owning the land while allowing individual families to own their homes under long-term ground leases.
Over the years, the organization has provided tangible results. By 2025, CLTB has completed four residential buildings with 110 housing units, and 100 additional units are in progress. Examples of completed projects include "L'Écluse," the first operational CLT building in continental Europe, located in Molenbeek. Each housing initiative integrates community involvement, from development to management, fostering social cohesion and empowering residents.
Governance is central to CLTB's operations, with its Board of Directors equally composed of residents, civil society representatives, and public authorities. This tripartite structure ensures that both individual and broader community interests are balanced. Beyond housing, CLTB promotes neighborhood development and social integration through partnerships with local associations.
CLTB's activities now expand beyond building homes, as it advocates for the wider adoption of the CLT model across Europe and supports similar initiatives through the European Community Land Trust Network. With 600 registered members, CLTB continues its mission of redefining affordable housing in Brussels.