How these neighbors saved their own building, and became owners themselves

For Tamir and his neighbors, collective action turned fear of displacement into lasting stability.

Tamir grew up in North Oakland and has lived in his Berkeley apartment building for nearly two decades. When his landlord arrived with realtors and a prospective buyer, Tamir knew what that could mean. With new ownership, rents often rise, and longtime residents are pushed out of their homes.

But instead of giving up, Tamir and his neighbors decided to act. Together, they partnered with the Bay Area Community Land Trust to purchase their building. Now, they not only get to stay—they get to have a say.

Land Trusts Change Lives

BACLT has ten properties in Berkeley and Oakland, totaling 98 permanently affordable homes with over 130 residents who participate in the management of their own homes.

“Being able to sleep at night, to have a good night’s rest because you know you don’t have to run from place to place. That’s stability.”

These neighbors are working together to manage their property cooperatively, ensuring their homes remain affordable and their community intact for generations to come. They found a way to stay, and you can too—learn more about Community Land Trusts.

Tamir’s story was told in collaboration with the Bay Area Community Land Trust (BACLT) as part of the Stories of Home Initiative. BACLT helps create permanently affordable housing through cooperatively run land stewardship projects, by taking land and housing out of the speculative market and helping to stabilize our neighborhoods.