Creating Lasting Stability
for our Communities and
Future Generations
Our Story
South Bay CLT comes from a long history of organizing around housing and survival in our communities. It was born out of direct action to oppose corporate land grabs in the area, such as the 2017 announcement of Google’s proposed new tech campus in San José.
Community showed up, including dozens of housing protectors who have been working on housing issues in our community for decades. They decided a different approach was necessary to protect low-income, working-class, and unhoused communities from further displacement.
The South Bay CLT first met in August, 2018 and was incorporated as a non-profit on April 26, 2019. Shortly after incorporation, South Bay CLT defined the organization's mission and values.
The mission is simple: “To combat displacement, land speculation, and community deterioration, and expand housing and economic development opportunities for low-income and moderate-income residents in Santa Clara County”
South Bay CLT’s Work is rooted in five values:
Racial & Gender Equity
Transformational change
Collective leadership
Sustainability & Wellness
Love (The most important)
Shortly after incorporation, South Bay CLT began knocking on doors and inviting community members to learn about the Community Land Trust housing model. One of those doors was 32 W. Reed St, where South Bay CLT Board President Liz Gonzalez and Vice President Sandy Perry met current resident Tafhari Franklin. This initial conversation sparked an 8-month grassroots capital campaign to acquire and rehabilitate the property, ensuring that 4 units of housing in a highly speculative downtown corridor were removed from the market and returned to the community as affordable housing.
Fast forward to 2021: while doing neighborhood outreach about the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) with SOMOS Mayfair, the team learned about an 18-unit property in East San José (the Virginian) facing displacement because the long-time owner wanted to sell. South Bay CLT took action and began coordinating meetings with residents to learn about the community land trust model and how it can prevent their displacement. Monthly meetings and check-ins with the owners helped bridge learning and communication on-site, and, with a democratic voting process, all 18 units unanimously voted for South Bay CLT to acquire our second property.
Organizational Structure:
SBCLT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, led by a tripartite board of directors comprising the communities we represent.
According to the bylaws, the Board is equally comprised of one-third of each of three stakeholder groups: 1) residents of SBCLT properties, 2) residents of communities served by the CLT, and 3) mission-aligned “subject matter experts”.
The board is also responsible for ensuring that its composition reflects the diversity of the Santa Clara County community, in terms of race/ethnicity, national origin, gender and gender preference, age, ability/disability, and primary language. Within this diversity, the board also reserves at least one-third of its membership for residents of low-income neighborhoods or representatives of neighborhood organizations serving low-income residents. The directors occupy a position of trust in the organization's fiscal management for the benefit of the community and are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity.
Although SBCLT does not have a formal membership structure, its founding as an all-volunteer organization has continued to shape its organizational structure today, even after onboarding expert staff members. SBCLT has a horizontal culture that encourages and depends on contributions from everyone involved. Regular membership meetings bring together residents, volunteers, board and staff members, forming a collaborative body that serves as SBCLT's nerve center and steering committee. The day-to-day work is then carried out by the staff and by committees that include board and staff members, property residents, and community leaders.
