Community Land Trust: An Alternative Path to Conventional Policy and Planning Approaches Towards Urban Rights in Self-Built Neighborhoods

The ongoing housing affordability crisis, driven by speculative real estate trends, demands alternative approaches to secure adequate living environments and uphold residents' land rights. The Community Land Trust (CLT) model, first established by civil rights activists in the U.S. during the late 1960s, offers a compelling solution by promoting non-speculative urban development and collective land ownership. With successful implementations in various European countries and emerging examples in the Global South, CLTs advocate for communal ownership and collective efforts to improve housing conditions, presenting a viable response to the current housing challenges. This paper explores the feasibility of implementing a CLT in Cova da Moura, a historically marginalized, self-built neighborhood on the outskirts of Lisbon, where residents have long struggled to secure their urban rights. Unlike most CLTs worldwide, which are typically designed for new housing developments, this study draws on experiences from Puerto Rico and Brazil to propose a CLT as a tool for land tenure regularization and urban planning in an established informal settlement. The paper details the participatory process involved in the study and evaluates the potential for applying the CLT model within Cova da Moura, considering the existing urban, legal, economic, and institutional frameworks. By showcasing the potential of the CLT model to revitalize the community, empower residents, and offer sustainable long-term housing solutions, this paper underscores the need for innovative urban policies grounded in the concept of urban commons. It argues for a participatory and inclusive approach to address the housing crisis, secure tenure, and protect against evictions in vulnerable neighborhoods, ultimately advocating for a shift in urban policy design.