NLC Help Desk on Shared – Equity Homeownership

The National League of Cities has partnered with Grounded Solutions Network to deliver guidance to local governments on shared equity homeownership models that will serve their communities for generations to come.

Shared equity homeownership encompasses a variety of approaches to providing affordable homeownership opportunities, including:

• Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
• Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives
• Deed-Restricted Housing Programs

Each model has  a commitment to making homeownership affordable to low- and moderate-income households and keeping it affordable after the sale. Shared equity homeownership does this both by using subsidy dollars to lower the initial cost of a home to an affordable price and by imposing resale restrictions to keep the home affordable for subsequent low- or moderate-income families to purchase.

Through the NLC Help Desk on Shared Equity Homeownership, Grounded Solutions Network staff stand ready to answer your SEH-related questions and concerns. These might include:

General knowledge questions

• What is shared equity homeownership? 
• How does it work? 
• What housing and community development challenges does shared equity homeownership best address?

Questions about specific models

• How long will it take to start a CLT? 
• Can we combine a CLT with a deed-restricted housing program?

Advice on policy

• Do we need to modify our HOME or CDBG award practices to support limited-equity housing co-ops? 
• How should SEH homes be valued for tax purposes?

Facilitating connections to peer cities

• What other college towns have deed-restricted shared equity homeownership programs? 
• Who else is using CLTs to provide relief for distressed homeowners?

We want to get you the answers you need to make the most of these equitable, innovative and evidence-based affordable housing tools.

Lasting Affordability Policy Audit Available

Thanks to the generous support of Citi Community Investing and Development, we are also able to offer a limited number of communities a “Lasting Affordability Policy Audit.”  
This audit will provide a desk review of municipal policies and practices in five areas and suggest reforms to strengthen the community’s support for shared equity homeownership. Where appropriate, the audit will highlight opportunities to advance racial equity in the design and administration of these policies. Areas subject to review include:

• Land disposition policies and practices
• Funding and financing policies and practices
• Development incentives and requirements
• Property taxation practices
• Cross-program coordination

Priority for Lasting Affordability Policy Audits will be given to cities with populations of at least 40 percent people of color that has a demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity through housing policy.   The audits should take 4 to 6 weeks to complete, and may require 2 to 3 hours of municipal staff time to help identify relevant municipal policies and practices and answer Grounded Solutions Network staff questions. Participating jurisdictions will receive a written report and (optional) online presentation of the audit’s findings.

Request Assistance through the Help Desk

Please use the form below to submit your questions to the NLC Help Desk for Shared Equity Homeownership, or to be considered for a Lasting Affordability Policy Audit. You should expect to receive a response by phone or e-mail within two business days. 

Most questions can be answered directly, but we may need to schedule a brief follow-up conversation to gather more information.