How CLT Stewardship Builds Security Over Time

In co-op housing, safety is shaped not only by physical security; it grows from long-term stewardship, strong community relationships, and continuity that housing stability provides. Creating safe and stable housing has been central to the Community Land Trust over the past decade.

Here, safety isn’t just about locks or procedures. It is the quiet sense of ease that comes from knowing your home is steady, your neighbours are familiar, and the community around you is supported for the long term.

In CLT co-op communities, housing stability and safety develop over time through long-term stewardship, responsive management, and strong relationships between neighbours. This approach supports residents at every stage of life, from families with young children to seniors aging in place.

The experiences of residents from Cardston Court Housing Co-op and Fraserview Housing Co-op below show how this sense of safety develops gradually and meaningfully over time. 

Cardston Court Housing Co-op: An Elder’s Experience 

When Oi Man moved into Cardston Court (formerly 115 Place) in 2004, the co-op was still finding its footing. “When we first moved in 20 some years ago,” she recalls, “we already had a security guard. That was very, very unexpected.” At that time, maintaining safety meant keeping outside activity from affecting the building. 

Once the co-op transitioned into stewardship under the Community Land Trust, the environment stabilized and those early security measures were no longer needed. The location, tucked at the end of a quiet street, reinforces this sense of calm. Most people passing through are residents or visitors. 

For Oi Man, that consistency matters. She states, “I’ve never felt unsafe in my building.”

CLT purchased Cardston Court in 2022, protecting it from a potential sale to private developers who would have likely redeveloped the property. CLT also took over property management and has worked with co-op members on long-term planning efforts to ensure the building and community continues to thrive. 

Members know their homes will be cared for in the long-term by CLT, resulting in increased reassurance and a steady sense of home. “We know that now Community Land Trust is going to be looking after the building for the long-term,” says Oi. “We don’t see any change in the near future which is very assuring.”

Stewardship and Long-Term Stability

Together, these perspectives show how safety takes shape gradually, through environment, relationships, and long-term support. This approach reflects the core of CLT’s stewardship model. 

“Our role is to ensure co-ops have the stability and support they need for the long term,” says CEO, Thom Armstrong. “We steward the housing, so communities can focus on living, organizing, and growing together.” 

The community land trust model allows CLT to maintain permanently affordable housing for members. Members can rest safely in the knowledge they won’t fall victim to renovictions or the sale of homes to private developers. This gives co-op members the security they need to build vibrant communities where they know and work with their neighbours. 

Through continued partnership with co-op members, CLT supports the conditions that allow individuals and families to feel at home and connected where they live. Truly building communities people are proud to call home.