Headwaters Community Trust
Community Assets for Affordable Futures
Our Mission
To invest in social and economic vitality by securing land for affordable homes and other community assets.
Our Work
Using the Community Land Trust model, Headwaters will acquire and hold in trust land for homes, commercial and agricultural uses, and other functions that provide community benefit.
Protected from the speculative real estate market, these properties will form a stock of affordable housing and other community assets that will serve as a durable foundation for civic and economic vitality in our northern Vermont service area.
Because their resale price is regulated by the trust, Headwaters homes will always be within reach of people of ordinary means. Our vision is a future where everyone who takes part in the life of our communities can find a place that meets their needs for a home.
Our service area is the headwaters region of the Black, Barton, and Lamoille Rivers, comprising the northeastern Vermont towns of Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, and Greensboro, and adjoining communities.
Our Story So Far
In March 2023, the East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church began hosting a monthly Community Housing Forum to explore possible solutions to area housing needs through open and constructive discussions.
As a result of these discussions, a working group began meeting in September 2023 to explore community trust models best suited for addressing area housing needs. The working group defined our service area, and settled on the Community Land Trust (CLT) as the organizational model best suited to our purposes.
In June 2024 the working group incorporated as Headwaters Community Trust, Inc. and began meeting weekly to draft bylaws and pursue 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax status. Over the summer, Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) provided funds to support the formation of the organization, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont agreed to be our fiscal sponsor pending IRS approval of our tax-exempt status. The Vermont Small Business Law Center of Vermont Law School referred us to an attorney and granted us ten hours of legal services to review our organizing documents and complete our filing.
John Davis of Burlington Associates provided model CLT bylaws and much encouragement. In September, the Community Housing Forum hosted a public event with John, who provided an overview of the history and workings of the Community Land Trust model to an audience of 75 people. Following John’s presentation, the working group introduced Headwaters Community Trust. This soft launch kicked off the public engagement phase of our organizing process, which is continuing with presentations to town select boards, planning commissions, and other public gatherings across our service area.
We thank everyone who has contributed to our efforts along the way, and look forward to building Headwaters Community Trust with you.
Board of Directors
Linda Ramsdell President
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer Vice President
Richard Morrill Treasurer
Leslie Taylor Secretary
William Berman Director
William Day Director
Michael Reddy Director
Tom Warnock Director
Organizing Committee
Bill Berman
Bill Day
Rick Morrill
Linda Ramsdell
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer
Michael Reddy
Dave Stoner
Leslie Taylor
Neil Urie
Tom Warnock