半個(gè)世紀(jì)前,如今81歲的芭比·勒布搬進(jìn)她位于美國舊金山以北40英里(約64.37千米)風(fēng)景優(yōu)美的農(nóng)村地區(qū)的房子時(shí),她的鄰居大多是牧場主。她說:“我的兒子在學(xué)校里過得很艱難,因?yàn)槠渌苏J(rèn)為他是個(gè)嬉皮士。”
現(xiàn)在,該地區(qū)成為硅谷移民的家園,而勒布的房產(chǎn)價(jià)值超過100萬美元。
勒布靠社會保障福利金和兩個(gè)獨(dú)立單元樓的有限租金收入過活。2021年,她身陷兩難境地。她無力維護(hù)這些需要維修屋頂和化糞池的建筑物,但又不忍心增加租戶的租金或搬家。
她在談到向租戶收取市場價(jià)格的租金時(shí)稱:“我無法漲房租。在經(jīng)歷了租房的所有事情后,成為女房東真是太奇怪了。”
她在馬林西部地區(qū)社區(qū)土地信托基金(Community Land Trust of West Marin,簡稱CLAM)找到了折衷的辦法,該組織的使命是確保馬林縣的中低收入居民能夠負(fù)擔(dān)得起住房。
今年,勒布將她的房產(chǎn)以市場價(jià)值的一半賣給了CLAM。她是該信托基金“就地養(yǎng)老”計(jì)劃的第一位參與者,該計(jì)劃讓長期房主留在家中養(yǎng)老,而信托基金則接管了房屋的維護(hù)工作。
當(dāng)勒布去世時(shí),CLAM將把房產(chǎn)變成經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房,幫助緩解舊金山灣區(qū)的住房危機(jī)。勒布說:“未來將有三個(gè)可以負(fù)擔(dān)的單元樓,這讓我感到很高興。”
勒布表示,當(dāng)你像她一樣在一個(gè)社區(qū)生活了這么久時(shí),就地養(yǎng)老便是一件大事。她記得有人問她,為什么她不以房屋的價(jià)值出售房產(chǎn)。她的回答是:“那我之后要去哪里住?我將不得不離開這里。”
勒布說她深深植根于社區(qū):“我認(rèn)識很多人,也有很多人認(rèn)識我。”她記得最近和她6歲的孫子一起去郵局,孫子在注意到她向經(jīng)過的每個(gè)人打招呼后轉(zhuǎn)過身來。“我的孫子說:‘你一定認(rèn)識所有人。’”她回答說:“我確實(shí)認(rèn)識所有人。”
該信托基金的執(zhí)行董事帕姆·多爾表示,當(dāng)CLAM收購一處房產(chǎn)時(shí),該組織能夠決定將其作為經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房出售或出租。CLAM目前為66人提供住房,擁有18個(gè)出租單元樓。
該組織還協(xié)調(diào)出兩個(gè)房屋所有權(quán)。多爾說:“這些房產(chǎn)永遠(yuǎn)是負(fù)擔(dān)得起的,房屋所占用的土地由土地信托基金永久保留,因此,它是社區(qū)控制的住房。”
勒布買下她的房子后不久,馬林西部地區(qū)開始發(fā)生變化。她記得自己曾經(jīng)想過:“天啊,我不知道要怎么還這個(gè)抵押貸款。”她的房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀(jì)人向她保證,在短短幾年內(nèi),還款額就會與該地區(qū)的月租金持平。果然,房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀(jì)人是對的,而且房租價(jià)格還在繼續(xù)上漲。
勒布出售房產(chǎn)的決定對CLAM和對她自己一樣有幫助。CLAM的項(xiàng)目主管露絲·洛佩茲談到馬林縣的房地產(chǎn)市場時(shí)稱:“這是一個(gè)對創(chuàng)建經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房和購買房產(chǎn)來說都非常具有挑戰(zhàn)性的環(huán)境。我們無法做到以市場價(jià)格購買房產(chǎn)并將其轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榻?jīng)濟(jì)適用房項(xiàng)目。”
她說,自從勒布將她的房子賣給CLAM之后,該信托基金已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)社區(qū)的其他老年人對其就地養(yǎng)老計(jì)劃感興趣。
多爾表示,該計(jì)劃得到了社區(qū)的大力支持。她說:“很多住在社區(qū)的人都希望確保重要的工人、教師和在面包店工作的人可以在他們工作的地方居住。”
多爾指出,社區(qū)土地信托是一種更靈活的經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房模式,而不是更常見的使用低收入稅收抵免建造經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房的模式,后者為經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房的收購、建設(shè)和翻新提供補(bǔ)貼。她說:“[那種模式]需要很長的時(shí)間才能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn),并且在決定如何管理住房時(shí)確實(shí)將當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)排除在外。”她補(bǔ)充道,只有合格的開發(fā)商才可以開發(fā)那種住房模式。
使用低收入稅收抵免建造經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房通常也有最低單位要求。多爾說:“在農(nóng)村地區(qū),通常不會有那種密度。”
CLAM在經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房方面的做法,特別是其就地養(yǎng)老計(jì)劃,也涉及到社區(qū)發(fā)展理念的轉(zhuǎn)變。洛佩茲表示:“這是一個(gè)從我能夠得到多少錢以及什么對我最好到什么對我的社區(qū)最有利的轉(zhuǎn)變。這種思維的轉(zhuǎn)變是緩解住房危機(jī)的關(guān)鍵。”
芭比說,正是這種社區(qū)意識讓她這么多年來一直留在馬林縣。幾十年前,該物業(yè)一個(gè)單元樓的鍋爐發(fā)生爆炸,當(dāng)單元樓被燒毀時(shí),她的前夫和小女兒也被燒傷了。當(dāng)他們在醫(yī)院住了幾個(gè)星期時(shí),整個(gè)社區(qū)共同努力在他們回來之前重建了該單元樓。
她指出,這一點(diǎn)并沒有改變。勒布說:“這里的人互幫互助。在這里,人們相互照應(yīng)。這是一個(gè)美好的社區(qū)。”(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
半個(gè)世紀(jì)前,如今81歲的芭比·勒布搬進(jìn)她位于美國舊金山以北40英里(約64.37千米)風(fēng)景優(yōu)美的農(nóng)村地區(qū)的房子時(shí),她的鄰居大多是牧場主。她說:“我的兒子在學(xué)校里過得很艱難,因?yàn)槠渌苏J(rèn)為他是個(gè)嬉皮士。”
現(xiàn)在,該地區(qū)成為硅谷移民的家園,而勒布的房產(chǎn)價(jià)值超過100萬美元。
勒布靠社會保障福利金和兩個(gè)獨(dú)立單元樓的有限租金收入過活。2021年,她身陷兩難境地。她無力維護(hù)這些需要維修屋頂和化糞池的建筑物,但又不忍心增加租戶的租金或搬家。
她在談到向租戶收取市場價(jià)格的租金時(shí)稱:“我無法漲房租。在經(jīng)歷了租房的所有事情后,成為女房東真是太奇怪了。”
她在馬林西部地區(qū)社區(qū)土地信托基金(Community Land Trust of West Marin,簡稱CLAM)找到了折衷的辦法,該組織的使命是確保馬林縣的中低收入居民能夠負(fù)擔(dān)得起住房。
今年,勒布將她的房產(chǎn)以市場價(jià)值的一半賣給了CLAM。她是該信托基金“就地養(yǎng)老”計(jì)劃的第一位參與者,該計(jì)劃讓長期房主留在家中養(yǎng)老,而信托基金則接管了房屋的維護(hù)工作。
當(dāng)勒布去世時(shí),CLAM將把房產(chǎn)變成經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房,幫助緩解舊金山灣區(qū)的住房危機(jī)。勒布說:“未來將有三個(gè)可以負(fù)擔(dān)的單元樓,這讓我感到很高興。”
勒布表示,當(dāng)你像她一樣在一個(gè)社區(qū)生活了這么久時(shí),就地養(yǎng)老便是一件大事。她記得有人問她,為什么她不以房屋的價(jià)值出售房產(chǎn)。她的回答是:“那我之后要去哪里住?我將不得不離開這里。”
勒布說她深深植根于社區(qū):“我認(rèn)識很多人,也有很多人認(rèn)識我。”她記得最近和她6歲的孫子一起去郵局,孫子在注意到她向經(jīng)過的每個(gè)人打招呼后轉(zhuǎn)過身來。“我的孫子說:‘你一定認(rèn)識所有人。’”她回答說:“我確實(shí)認(rèn)識所有人。”
該信托基金的執(zhí)行董事帕姆·多爾表示,當(dāng)CLAM收購一處房產(chǎn)時(shí),該組織能夠決定將其作為經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房出售或出租。CLAM目前為66人提供住房,擁有18個(gè)出租單元樓。
該組織還協(xié)調(diào)出兩個(gè)房屋所有權(quán)。多爾說:“這些房產(chǎn)永遠(yuǎn)是負(fù)擔(dān)得起的,房屋所占用的土地由土地信托基金永久保留,因此,它是社區(qū)控制的住房。”
勒布買下她的房子后不久,馬林西部地區(qū)開始發(fā)生變化。她記得自己曾經(jīng)想過:“天啊,我不知道要怎么還這個(gè)抵押貸款。”她的房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀(jì)人向她保證,在短短幾年內(nèi),還款額就會與該地區(qū)的月租金持平。果然,房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀(jì)人是對的,而且房租價(jià)格還在繼續(xù)上漲。
勒布出售房產(chǎn)的決定對CLAM和對她自己一樣有幫助。CLAM的項(xiàng)目主管露絲·洛佩茲談到馬林縣的房地產(chǎn)市場時(shí)稱:“這是一個(gè)對創(chuàng)建經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房和購買房產(chǎn)來說都非常具有挑戰(zhàn)性的環(huán)境。我們無法做到以市場價(jià)格購買房產(chǎn)并將其轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)榻?jīng)濟(jì)適用房項(xiàng)目。”
她說,自從勒布將她的房子賣給CLAM之后,該信托基金已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)社區(qū)的其他老年人對其就地養(yǎng)老計(jì)劃感興趣。
多爾表示,該計(jì)劃得到了社區(qū)的大力支持。她說:“很多住在社區(qū)的人都希望確保重要的工人、教師和在面包店工作的人可以在他們工作的地方居住。”
多爾指出,社區(qū)土地信托是一種更靈活的經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房模式,而不是更常見的使用低收入稅收抵免建造經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房的模式,后者為經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房的收購、建設(shè)和翻新提供補(bǔ)貼。她說:“[那種模式]需要很長的時(shí)間才能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn),并且在決定如何管理住房時(shí)確實(shí)將當(dāng)?shù)厣鐓^(qū)排除在外。”她補(bǔ)充道,只有合格的開發(fā)商才可以開發(fā)那種住房模式。
使用低收入稅收抵免建造經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房通常也有最低單位要求。多爾說:“在農(nóng)村地區(qū),通常不會有那種密度。”
CLAM在經(jīng)濟(jì)適用房方面的做法,特別是其就地養(yǎng)老計(jì)劃,也涉及到社區(qū)發(fā)展理念的轉(zhuǎn)變。洛佩茲表示:“這是一個(gè)從我能夠得到多少錢以及什么對我最好到什么對我的社區(qū)最有利的轉(zhuǎn)變。這種思維的轉(zhuǎn)變是緩解住房危機(jī)的關(guān)鍵。”
芭比說,正是這種社區(qū)意識讓她這么多年來一直留在馬林縣。幾十年前,該物業(yè)一個(gè)單元樓的鍋爐發(fā)生爆炸,當(dāng)單元樓被燒毀時(shí),她的前夫和小女兒也被燒傷了。當(dāng)他們在醫(yī)院住了幾個(gè)星期時(shí),整個(gè)社區(qū)共同努力在他們回來之前重建了該單元樓。
她指出,這一點(diǎn)并沒有改變。勒布說:“這里的人互幫互助。在這里,人們相互照應(yīng)。這是一個(gè)美好的社區(qū)。”(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
When Bobbi Loeb, 81, moved into her house in a scenic rural area 40 miles north of San Francisco half a century ago, her neighbors were mostly cattle ranchers. “My son had a hard time in school because he was considered a hippie,” she says.
Now the area is home to Silicon Valley transplants and Loeb’s property is worth over $1 million.
Loeb, who lives on Social Security benefits and limited rental income from two separate units on her property, was facing a dilemma last year. She couldn’t afford to maintain the buildings, which needed roof and septic repairs, but couldn’t bear the thought of increasing rent on her tenants or moving.
“I just couldn't do it,” she says about charging market rates for her rentals. “It was just so bizarre to be a landlady after all my experiences as a renter.”
She found a middle ground with the Community Land Trust of West Marin (CLAM), an organization whose mission is to ensure that Marin County remains affordable for low and middle-income residents.
This year, Loeb sold her property to CLAM for half its market value. She’s the first participant of the trust’s age-in-place initiative, which lets longtime homeowners stay in their homes while the trust takes over their upkeep.
When Loeb dies, CLAM will turn the property into affordable housing units, helping to mitigate the housing crisis affecting the Bay Area. “There will be three affordable units,” says Loeb. “That makes me feel happy.”
Loeb says that aging in place is a big deal when you’ve lived in a community as long as she has. She remembers people asking her why she didn’t just sell the property for what it was worth. “And where would I live?” was her response. “I would have to leave here.”
Loeb says her roots are deep in the community: “I know so many people, and so many people know me.” She remembers going to the post office recently with her 6-year-old grandson and him turning to her after noticing her greet everyone she passed. “He said, ‘You must know everybody,’” she says. “And I do.”
When CLAM acquires a property, the organization can decide to either sell or rent it as affordable housing, according to Pam Dorr, the trust’s executive director. CLAM currently houses 66 people and owns 18 rental units.
The organization has also coordinated two home ownerships. “The properties stay permanently affordable, and the land under the homes is retained in perpetuity by the land trust, so it's community-controlled housing,” says Dorr.
West Marin started to change soon after Loeb bought her house. She remembers wondering: “God, I don't know how we're going to make this mortgage,” and her real estate broker assuring her that in only a few years the payments would be the same as monthly rent in the area. Sure enough, he was right, and prices have only continued to rise.
Loeb’s decision to sell was just as helpful for CLAM as it was for her. “It's a very challenging environment to create affordable housing and to acquire properties,” says Ruth Lopez, CLAM’s program director, about Marin County’s real estate market. “We can’t buy properties at market rate and turn them into affordable housing projects.”
She says that since Loeb sold her house to CLAM, the trust has seen interest from other older members of the community in its age-in-place initiative.
Dorr says the initiative has strong community support. “Lots of folks who live in the community want to make sure essential workers, teachers, and people who work at the bakery can stay living where they work,” she says.
A community land trust, says Dorr, is a more flexible model of affordable housing than the more common model built using low-income tax credits, which subsidize the acquisition, construction, and renovation of affordable rentals. “[That model] takes a long time and really excludes the local community in making decisions about how the housing is managed,” she says, adding that only qualified developers can develop that model of housing.
Affordable housing built using low-income tax credits also often come with minimum unit requirements. “And in rural areas, you're typically not going to have that type of density,” says Dorr.
CLAM’s approach to affordable housing, and specifically its age-in-place initiative, also involves a philosophical shift in thinking about community development. “It’s a pivot away from how much can I get and what's best for me to what's best for my community,” says Lopez. “That shift in thinking is what will mitigate the housing crisis.”
Bobbi says it’s the sense of community that has led her to stay in Marin County all these years. Decades ago, a boiler exploded in one of the units on the property, burning her ex-husband and young daughter as the unit burned down. While they spent several weeks in the hospital, the entire community worked together to rebuild the unit before they returned.
She says that hasn’t changed. “People help each other here, says Loeb. “They look out for each other here. It’s just a wonderful community.”