PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – At its Sept. 12, 2023, meeting, the Long Beach City Council awarded a contract to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, a fiscal sponsor for Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE), to establish and operate a Community Land Trust (CLT). A CLT is a nonprofit, community-based organization that raises funds, acquires and develops real estate with the goal of providing permanently affordable housing opportunities for residents.

“Ensuring quality and stable housing for all is vital to the entire Long Beach community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Through this innovative partnership, LiBRE will be able to join the City’s efforts to create more opportunities for homeownership and affordable housing.”

LiBRE was selected for its qualifications and experience with affordable housing and trust among Long Beach residents and neighborhood organizations. The nonprofit organization is recognized for its commitment to advancing justice in disadvantaged communities through the creation and preservation of affordable housing, renter protections and community economic development.

In December 2022, the City announced a request for proposals for the establishment of a CLT Program as part of the City’s strategic goal to build stronger communities through investments in housing and neighborhoods. As part of its two-year contract with the City, LiBRE will be provided up to $800,000 in one-time, start-up funds to launch a CLT and identify additional operational, housing acquisition, and/or development funding to increase the city’s affordable housing stock for lower-income and very low-income residents.

This program is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately $5 million in Recovery funds have been allocated to support housing and tenant assistance programs. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

The Community Land Trust also aligns with Goal 4 of Long Beach’s Racial and Reconciliation Initiative to explore investment in alternative forms of land/property ownership to prevent displacement, such as CLTs.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.