Amid the rapid rise in rents and the difficulty of purchasing a home, the Esperanza Community Land Trust program has become a key tool in helping low-income families remain in their communities. This was explained by Maritza Ortiz, Vice President of Construction and Property Management at Esperanza Community Land Trust:“What’s happening is that rents are going up and they’re very high, and people are being forced to move out of their neighborhoods. This is a way to preserve our community, so that people can stay,” Ortiz stated.

Esperanza Community Land Trust is part of the Esperanza organization and focuses on acquiring properties, renovating them, and offering them for rent at affordable prices based on each family’s income.

How the Esperanza Community Land Trust model works

The process begins with identifying abandoned properties, homes for sale, or properties donated to the organization. Once acquired, the team manages grants and available funding to fully rehabilitate them.

“We buy houses, look for grants to fix them, manage the construction, permits, contractors, and architects. When the property is ready, it goes to our property management team to be made available,” Ortiz explained.

The homes are renovated to modern standards, including new windows, flooring, central air conditioning, and structural improvements.

Decent housing for low-income families

Esperanza Community Land Trust is aimed at people who cannot afford current market rents and are not yet able to purchase a home. The focus is on families at 60% or below of the area median income, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“It is designed to help low-income individuals so they can gradually save. If they want to become homeowners, we also help them,” she explained.

Currently, the program offers rental homes, including two- and three-story properties. In addition, Esperanza is working on new mixed-use projects that will include accessible units for seniors and people with disabilities.

“We’re going to have units with access for seniors, without stairs, with ramps, because many people are looking for that type of housing,” the vice president added.

Interested individuals can contact Esperanza directly for guidance, complete an interest form, and receive additional support, including programs that help cover security deposits. Esperanza provides housing counseling, education, savings support, and financial empowerment, with an emphasis on housing stability. The organization also helps families verify legal contracts, landlord licenses, and proper housing conditions.

In response to frequent cases of fraud, illegal rentals, and uninhabitable housing, Esperanza has a team of professionals who provide legal guidance to the community and advise on available housing types and programs, helping protect family stability.

For more information, people can call Esperanza on 215-324-0746 ext. 299 or 419.