Bakersfield's Ambitious Affordable Housing Program Brings Permanent Homes to First-Time Buyers

Strategic Insights -

In a milestone for affordable housing in Bakersfield, the first homes under the city's Community Land Trust program are now available to pre-qualified applicants. The program, created by the City Council in 2023, aims to provide permanently affordable homes to first-time buyers. The first two homes, located on Sunchase Drive in southwest Bakersfield, will be sold through a lottery to applicants who meet the trust's affordable housing standards.

These homes, valued at $100,000, will be sold with a silent loan provided by the trust, making them accessible to buyers who cannot afford the full mortgage. The trust, now an independent nonprofit, has received an initial $6.5 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act dollars from the city to support its mission. With 14 properties currently in its portfolio and plans for two more lotteries in the near future, BCLT is working to create a revolving fund to support the construction of new affordable homes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bakersfield Community Land Trust (BCLT) has created 14 properties, with the first two homes available on Sunchase Drive in southwest Bakersfield.
  • The home values at $100,000, and applicants must qualify for a $100,000 mortgage from a third-party lender.
  • The trust provides a silent loan to make the homes affordable, and money raised from home sales will be returned to BCLT to fund additional units.
  • The program aims to create permanently affordable housing by separating the ownership of land from the home built on it.
  • BCLT has received a $6.5 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act dollars from the city to support its mission.
  • The trust has plans to hire its own contractors for future projects and currently has a revolving fund for the construction of new homes.

Sources:

  • "New homes, new hope," by The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, Calif.), August 2025 (available at www.bakersfield.com)
  • Bakersfield Community Land Trust website, bakersfieldclt.org (accessible via online link)