About Us
About Us
The Island Housing Trust is a non-profit Community Land Trust organization with the mission of creating, promoting, and stewarding permanently affordable homes to support a diverse and sustainable community on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard. Our Mission Vision Values statement outlines not only our vision for the future but our commitment to fostering a diverse community and workplace.
Our social justice roots are firmly planted in the Community Land Trust movement which began in the late 1960’s during the civil-rights-era. A CLT is a mechanism by which land is held in trust and managed by a nonprofit, used for whatever a community chooses, whether that’s housing, small businesses, cultural spaces, gardens, parks, or farms. The land is owned by a trust, which keeps it out of speculators’ hands, but residences and other structures can be privately owned and inherited, allowing community members to build wealth.
Since 2006, we’ve provided hope and opportunity to hundreds of low and moderate income island families seeking a dignified solution to their affordable housing needs. Together, we’re working towards a stronger, more resilient and sustainable future for our island community.
“This changed my life.” I’ve been told that several times over my years of helping to provide housing opportunities on Martha’s Vineyard. We can have such a profound effect because stable housing makes a real difference. I have witnessed beneficiaries of financially attainable units experience far less stress, their incomes stabilize and their children’s health and education improve. Folks are thriving rather than just surviving.
Doug Ruskin, Former IHT Board Member
Our Vision 2030
Over the past two decades Island Housing Trust has created permanently affordable homes for low‑ and moderate‑income year‑round families across Martha’s Vineyard, helping stabilize the Island’s workforce and strengthen our community. As housing pressures continue to intensify, the need for long‑term, mission‑driven solutions has never been greater.
Guided by our Vision 2030 Strategic Plan, our goal is to serve another 500 low‑, moderate‑, and middle‑income year-round residents by creating 200 additional permanently affordable ownership and rental homes across all six Island towns by 2030. This work is central to addressing housing insecurity and ensuring Martha’s Vineyard remains a diverse, resilient, year‑round community.
To achieve these ambitious goals, Island Housing Trust will work in partnership with Island towns, the Commonwealth, other housing organizations, and committed supporters and investors. Together, these efforts will significantly reduce the Island’s housing shortfall and deliver lasting impact for generations to come.
Our model is simple
We create and sustain permanent year-round housing that bridges the gap between the island’s high property values and families in need. We lower the initial cost of homeownership by eliminating the land cost and a portion of the construction costs through grants and donations. In exchange, our homeowners agree to a permanent deed restriction on their homes in the form of a Ground Lease. If they should sell their home, they sell it to another low or moderate-income family at an affordable price.
Our local partnerships are smart
We develop ownership and rental housing cost effectively and efficiently. This strengthens the island economy by creating more local jobs. Successful projects that come in under budget and ahead of schedule serve as models of public/private partnership. These partnerships involve island towns, land conservation organizations, the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, state housing organizations, local businesses and the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Our homes are models of sustainability
We design and build simple, durable, healthy, energy efficient homes that are affordable to purchase, own, and maintain for generations. Joint land purchases with the Land Bank have created clustered neighborhoods of affordable homes while permanently conserving surrounding open space.
Our commitment is perpetual
Our nationally recognized ground lease model helps ensure homeowners’ success and their home’s permanent affordability through ongoing support and stewardship services for as long as they own it. This hands-on approach has helped safeguard against the threat of foreclosure and ensures that these homes on leased land remain affordable now and for future generations of island families.