Affordable Homeownership Begins Here

Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT provides equal housing and fair opportunities for individuals and families fostering equity through shared appreciation and sustainable community development.

About Us
What is a CLT?

About Us

lbc community land trust

Start Your Journey to Homeownership

The Lighthouse Beloved Community (LBC) strives to move individuals and families from housing instability to home ownership. The LBC aims to achieve this by creating permanently affordable, community -controlled housing, plus ongoing support for successful homeownership. Through fostering healthy and supportive interpersonal relationships, another wealth is gained called community.

Advancing The Dream

Lighthouse Beloved Community will embody the dream cast by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke often of a beloved community as a way of transforming people and relationships and creating communities grounded in reconciliation, friendship and human dignity.

Group of diverse protesters dressed in formal black suits and white shirts, wearing buttons and one with a straw hat, participating in a march for jobs and freedom.
“In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.”
— Martin Luther King

The 3 Pillars

lighthouse beloved community clt 3 pillars

A special thank you to each of these organizations for their support.

Logo with two intertwined rectangles, one blue and one black, and the word 'Abbott' below.
Accelerator logo with black, red, and gray design and the word 'ACCUPPOINT' underneath
Amazon logo with black text and orange arrow underneath on a light gray background.
Nationwide logo with a stylized white angel wing and the word 'Nationwide' below
Logo with the word 'beam' in lowercase black letters, with a colorful bar above the text featuring blue, green, yellow, and red segments.
Logo for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank with stylized apple, hills, and sunset in the background.
Calvary Baptist Church logo featuring a stylized cross design and the church's name.
Logo featuring three stylized human figures in red, black, and blue, with the text 'Center for Common Ground'.
Logo for Choice Hibachi Buffet featuring red and yellow text on a black background.
Gray and white sign with distressed font that reads "Virginia Proud County Smoke, Pit Bar-B-Que" with a red silhouette of a pig in front of the text.
Delta Star Inc. logo with a circular design and a stylized star in the center.
A globe with a grid pattern on the left and a large orange letter 'D' on the right.
Logo for Dodson Pest Control with a red triangle and white text.
Yellow and black sign reading 'DOLLAR GENERAL'
Food lion logo with black lion silhouette and blue text.
Foster Fuels logo with red oval background and white text, stating 'Since 1921 Foster Fuels'.
Logo of Freedom First with a star design and the phrase 'Where people bank for good'.
Logo for The Fresh Market with green square background and white text
Logo for the Church of the Good Shepherd with an illustration of a shepherd in a boat and the tagline 'A community walking in the way of Jesus.'
Grounded Solutions Network Champion Member badge from 2022 with a brick wall background, featuring the word Walls on a blue ribbon.
Kinetix Health Club logo with text
Stylized lotus flower with radiating lines and the text 'Latha Jay' below in brown.
Logo of Mental Health America with the acronym MHA, featuring the full name in smaller text, and an orange swoosh underlining the acronym.
Blue background with white downward and upward arrows forming a U-shape, and text that says 'Welcome to MoveUP'.
Text reading 'PERMA Research & Progress' in stylized multicolored font.
A logo for Annacle Financial Partners with a stylized blue and black design.
Logo with a tree, green leaves, and a person at the center, surrounded by text 'Social Education for Economic Development'.
Starbucks logo featuring a twin-tailed mermaid or siren with a crown, on a green circular background.
Logo of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, featuring a blue triangular emblem with a cross and triangular patterns, and purple and red text.
Logo of the Department of Health and Human Services, USA, featuring a stylized bird and the acronym TANF.
Logo for Virginia Housing featuring a stylized house with a green roof and the words "Virginia Housing" underneath.
Virginia Housing Alliance logo with a house icon above the text
Close-up of a partially visible logo with the word "SPECI" in black and a blue and white geometric background.
Company logo for Wellington Builder with a stylized orange and blue 'W' and gray text
Genworth Foundation logo with black text and a blue starburst symbol.

LBC utilizes premier energy-efficient materials in our construction

Watch a chronicle of our first energy-efficient home build-out using steel-frames and the Rok-On© product!

We are proud to announce that The Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT is featured in a Housing Justice short-film documentary produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a distinguished national philanthropic organization committed to advancing health equity and community well-being. Read article here

The short film, "Roses and Thorns", tells the compelling story of Ashleigh’s journey to rebuild her family’s future—made possible through a "Community Land Trust" and the dedicated support of our partner in affordable housing, Grounded Solutions Network. Read their article here

OUR CULTURE AND POLICIES

  • Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT believes that it is essential that all aspects of housing be reflective of the diversity of the communities that they serve and that LBC CLT strives to become and remain culturally and linguistically competent. A culturally and linguistically competent housing incorporates skills, attitudes, and policies to ensure that it is effectively addressing the needs of individuals and families with diverse values, beliefs, and sexual orientations, in addition to backgrounds that vary by race, ethnicity, religion, and language.

  • At LBC CLT, we believe embracing different perspectives, experiences, identities, and cultures is what makes us strong. Diversity enhances our ability to better serve, connect and respect our participants. Diversity allows us to cultivate a safe and positive work environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to the workplace. Diversity also gives us the opportunity to make a positive and lasting impact in our communities. There is more work to be done in creating a culture of equity, positivity, acceptance, and respect; and we welcome your involvement with our journey.

  • Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT is committed to advancing an anti-racist agenda and promoting housing equity. We affirm the importance of advocacy and recognize that racial injustice has caused trauma and harm to disenfranchised communities. We acknowledge that combating racism and inequity is an ongoing commitment. The impact of economic, clinical, and environmental disparities, including diverse linguistic needs, may hinder the opportunity to access and receive quality and equitable housing. Thus, we remain devoted to addressing discrimination, stigma, and other social and moral determinants of health, leading by example and educating our affiliates and communities. Together, we stand united in support of racial justice and the intersection of affordable housing, and the well-being care of humanity.

Ask about our FREE Home Ownership Class!

What is a CLT?

Learn more about what a Community Land Trust is and how it benefits the area, homeowners, and more.

A CLT is a community-based, non-profit organization governed by a board of residents, neighbors, and professional representatives that oversees a

parcel of land to preserve long term affordability of homes.

VA Housing has the Lighthouse Beloved Community as one of five CLT's in Virginia

ADVANTAGES OF A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (CLT)

  • A small house model with a gray roof and red walls on a wooden surface, with keys in the foreground.

    You Own A House

    Build up a stronger financial future.

  • Three small white house models placed on top of colorful charts and graphs.

    You Build Equity

    Your ownership builds equity.

  • A close-up view of numerous US one hundred dollar bills arranged to resemble a house roof.

    Protection From Market Downturn

    Economy ups and downs don't matter!

  • Person in a business suit holding a small, pastel-colored house model with a grassy plant partially visible on the left and a notebook, pen, and coins on the table in front.

    Purchase a CLT Home with a Traditional Mortgage

    Traditional process for obtaining a mortgage.

  • Illustration of diverse hands raised with ballot papers, indicating voting or participation.

    Community-Shared Decision-Making

    Everyone takes pride in the community and comes together to make decisions.

  • A protest with various signs opposing gentrification, united by a large emblem with a red circle and slash over the word 'GENTRIFICATION'.

    Combats Displacement Caused By Gentrification

    You can pass your home to your children.

Learn about a Community Land Trust (CLT)

  • A CLT is a community-based, non-profit organization governed by a board of residents, neighbors, and professional representatives that oversees a

    parcel of land to preserve long term affordability of homes.

    VA Housing has the Lighthouse Beloved Community as one of five CLT's in Virginia

    • An individual or family purchases a house where the land is owned by a CLT.

    • The sales price is more affordable than a traditional home because the homeowner is only buying the house, not the land.

    • Homeowners lease the land from the CLT in a long-term lease (example 99 years).

    • Homeowners must sell the home at a restricted price to keep it affordable. The home’s value may increase from improvements that are made while living in the house.

  • CLTs are typically nonprofits managed by a board, dedicated CLT staff and community members. In other words, CLTs are governed by three distinct stakeholder classes. One group is the lessees: the homeowners, tenants, building owners, and businesses who actually use the land. Then there are those who live in direct proximity to that land. The third group represents the broader public—community members, grassroots leaders, etc.

  • Homeowners pay a nominal monthly ground lease fee that assists in supporting the organization.

    • Affordability - CLT homes are more affordable than homes purchased on the open real estate market because the ground is leased and taken out of the sales price.

    • Mortgage – Consistent and affordable housing payments.

    • Community – CLT homeowners are members of the CLT for as long as they own their CLT home. They are invited to participate in the CLT community through voting, volunteering, and becoming a CLT board member.

    • Support – CLT homebuyers have the support of the CLT and its staff as long as they own their home. 

    • Stability – Homeownership provides stable housing costs and security. With this stability, homeowners have a solid foundation that can allow them to enjoy life and pursue other dreams.

  • When a CLT homeowner wants to move there are several options. The home can be sold directly to an income-qualified buyer, can be sold back to the CLT, or it can be given to other qualified heirs of the homeowner.

    All CLTs ensure that when a CLT homeowner sells their home, they get all of their equity (the amount of money that they used as a down-payment as well as the portion of the mortgage paid off) plus a portion of the appreciated value of the home.

  • Yes, as with any real estate, you may bequeath your LBC CLT home to whomever you wish. If you leave your home to your child, spouse, or someone who has been living with you for the past year, s/he may inherit the home and live in it providing s/he is willing to agree to the terms of the lease. If you bequeath your home to someone else, and that person is income eligible, s/he may also inherit your home and live in it providing s/he is willing to agree to the terms of the lease. If the person you leave your home to is not one of these people or is not income eligible, your estate will sell the house and the person you have designated will receive the money from the sale. As with any real estate, your mortgage will need to be paid off before the house can be transferred to your heirs, so any heirs hoping to keep the house will need to be able to afford a loan of their own to pay for any portion of the mortgage that is still outstanding.

  • The CLT homeowner pays all the taxes associated with the property. As with all homeowners, property taxes and mortgage interest are tax deductible.

A COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN LYNCHBURG, VA

Steps to Ownership

Flowchart illustrating the application process for Lighthouse Beloved Community, beginning with attending an information session, then a homebuyer education class, submitting an application, in-person review, obtaining pre-approval, signing purchase agreement, reviewing with legal counsel, signing closing documents, and finally moving in.
Get Started

View our Gallery

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Watts Street Home

A modern multi-story house with gray siding and large windows, surrounded by green grass and trees.
A staircase with brown carpeted steps, beige walls, a wooden handrail, a small window showing trees outside, and an air conditioning unit on the wall.
Indoor staircase with brown carpeted steps leading to an upper floor, with white trim and a gray wall on the left, and beige wall on the right, with a hallway at the top and electrical switches on the left wall.
Empty room with beige walls, large window showing greenery outside, gray carpeted floor, white trim, air conditioning unit on wall, ceiling light fixture.
Interior view of a modern kitchen with white cabinetry, dark wood flooring, and recessed lighting. There is a small kitchen island with items on top, and a small bathroom with a toilet is visible through an open door. A staircase is partially visible
An empty room with beige walls, carpeted floor, two windows, a white door, and an air conditioning unit on the wall.
A bathroom with a beige countertop, a large mirror, and a cabinet. Part of a toilet is visible at the bottom left. The floor is wood-like laminate. There is a doorway leading to a carpeted room with windows and a light fixture.
Small bathroom with a toilet, pedestal sink, oval mirror, and wall-mounted light fixture, with dark wood flooring.
3D floor plan of a small apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, living room, and entrance.
Top-down view of a small apartment with three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen.
3D floor plan of a modern apartment with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and staircase.
3D rendering of a small apartment with a bedroom, bathroom, and living area, viewed from above.
A 3D floor plan of a small living room and kitchen with wood flooring, furniture, and appliances.

Coming Soon

A digital rendering of a two-story duplex with a gray facade, black accents, and white trim, surrounded by trees and fencing. The image includes a blueprint showing the main and upper floor plans, detailing room sizes and layout.
Architectural site plan showing designated areas for underground utilities, building footprints, trees, and landscaping design elements.
A detailed survey and plat map of a residential subdivision showing street names, lot boundaries, lot numbers, measurements, and other survey details.

Our Vision

Our vision includes 90 acres of land. Twenty acres has been subdivided and is ready-to-build for affordable homeownership. We have partnered with ROK-ONTM, a building materials science company, as its supplier for energy-efficient construction. Wellington Builders is our General Contractor, and Accupoint Engineering and Surveying is our civil engineering firm.

Currently, one single-family ROK-ON home has been built and sold in 2023. Ten additional ROK-ON homes are coming in 2024. It is anticipated that our CLT portfolio will double in 2025.

A detailed conceptual master plan of The Lighthouse Community, a mixed-use development project located along Kemper St and Holiday St. It includes residential areas, commercial spaces, water features, nature trails, community park, and parking facili
Development plan showing residential lot layout, roads, and green spaces with an inset photo of two modern houses.

Lynchburg's Lighthouse Beloved Community
Awarded VA Housing Grant

Brick house with front porch and a gable roof, on a grassy lot with trees in the background.

The Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT is featured in Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s recently released “From Hope to Home,” film series, part of which was shown at last month’s Policy. Practice. Power. conference. Now the Lynchburg, VA-based organization has another piece of exciting news: it has been awarded an $800,000 grant from Virginia Housing. 

This transformative funding will significantly advance the organization’s mission to create permanently affordable housing in Lynchburg. The grant will be used to support the acquisition and development of eight CLT homes, ensuring that families and individuals with low to moderate incomes can remain rooted in their communities.

Martha Brown, Executive Director of Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT, called the funding “a powerful investment in housing justice” that will “allow us to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and provide secure, affordable housing for generations to come.”

The grant from Virginia Housing reflects a growing commitment across the state to support innovative housing models like CLTs. These models not only address affordability but also empower communities to shape their own futures.

Lighthouse Beloved Community CLT credits Grounded Solutions for providing the support that helped it gain the attention of Virginia Housing. With this support, the organization is poised to continue building a more just and inclusive housing landscape where everyone has a place to call home.

To view the original article blog post from 2004 on Grounded Solutions, click here.