History & Future

City Roots Community Land Trust (CRCLT) began in 2016 out of community resistance, with neighbors joining together to prevent the foreclosure of their friend Liz’s home. This early act of solidarity led to CRCLT’s founding and its first property. The vision for safe, community-owned housing has since driven CRCLT’s mission to establish permanently affordable housing for Rochester.

In 2019, CRCLT expanded significantly with an NYS Attorney General grant, allowing us to acquire and rehabilitate distressed properties. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, halted local tax auctions, pushing us to enter the open housing market and acquire units with 250+ code violations. While our team has worked tirelessly to fundraise and transform these properties, significant repair costs and limited capacity have created ongoing financial challenges. These hardships have highlighted a need to restructure our role from managing rental properties directly to focusing on stewardship in partnership with organizations better equipped to provide supportive housing services.

• 2016 – Founding: City Roots was established when community members organized to prevent the foreclosure of their friend Liz’s home, laying the foundation for a mission focused on providing permanently affordable housing in Rochester.

• 2019 – Growth Through Grant Funding: With a grant from the NYS Attorney General, City Roots expanded its portfolio by acquiring several properties, preserving them as affordable housing.

• 2020 – COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic intensified the housing crisis, prompting City Roots and PCHO to adapt their strategies to meet urgent community needs.

• 2021 – Acquisition of Distressed Properties: City Roots purchased eight severely distressed buildings. Despite substantial investment in repairs, unforeseen costs and over 350 code violations led to significant financial challenges.

• 2022 – Strategic Reassessment: Recognizing sustainability challenges, City Roots paused to develop a long-term strategy focused on its core mission and capacity.

• 2023 – Strategic Plan Approval: City Roots approved a strategic plan that shifts its role from property management to stewardship, partnering with organizations better equipped to manage housing while preserving affordability and community ownership.

 This year, City Roots Community Land Trust successfully restructured its approach by transferring properties to aligned community organizations, allowing sustainable management and community residents safe homes. We made the decision to scale back, reorganize, and strengthen internal processes by transitioning to a team of dedicated board members, volunteers & part-time staff. Recognizing our limitations, we embraced strategic partnerships, learning from past challenges to fortify relationships. In collaboration with PCHO and the City of Rochester, we contributed to the development of new shelters in Peace Village. This year marks a renewed commitment to serving the Rochester community with a sustainable, mission-driven impact.

• April 2024 - Shelters Delivered: 15 double-occupancy shelters arrive in Rochester, equipped with air conditioning and heating.

• August 202 - Funding Secured: The Rochester City Council allocated an additional $70,000 for site development, bringing the total funding to $820,000.

• September 2024 -Contracts Finalized: CRCLT signs a contract with Christa Construction to oversee site preparation and construction for Peace Village.

• October 2024 - Financial Oversight: CRCLT begins managing funds for the Peace Village project, ensuring timely payments and financial transparency.

• Early November 2024 - Construction Begins: Site work commences, including paving and utility installation, preparing the area for shelter setup.

• Winter 2024/ Spring 2025 - Move-In Ready: Completion of site preparations allows up to 30 residents to move into the new shelters.