Housing trust urges Pullman schools to consider community land trust collaboration for workforce housing
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Summary
A public commenter from Hills and Rivers Housing Trust asked the Pullman School Board to explore a community land trust model to expand workforce housing for families and staff; the superintendent asked for follow-up materials by email.
Nils Peterson, executive director of Hills and Rivers Housing Trust, addressed the Pullman School Board during public comment on Sept. 10 and urged collaboration on a community land trust model to expand workforce housing.
Peterson explained the trust’s approach: sell homes but retain ownership of the land to lower purchase prices, require owner-occupancy and limit resale to income-qualified buyers using a formula that moderates appreciation so housing remains affordable for local wages. He told the board the target population are households earning less than 80% of area median income — roughly the “high fifties to $70,000” range, by his description — and emphasized the model is intended to help school staff, university and hospital employees and other local workers.
The superintendent asked Peterson to follow up by email with specifics on potential collaboration with the district. Peterson said he would provide more information and offered to return for a future discussion.
No board action was taken during the public-comment period; the superintendent invited written materials to allow staff to consider possible district involvement.