As housing prices continue to rise across North Texas, community leaders, housing advocates, developers, and financial institutions are coming together to explore long-term solutions that protect working families and preserve access to homeownership opportunities.
On May 19, the Fort Worth Community Land Trust (FWCLT) hosted a community development event at the Amon Carter Center at Lena Pope, bringing together leaders from across the housing and economic development sectors to discuss the future of affordable homeownership in Fort Worth.
The conversation focused on rising housing costs, workforce housing, neighborhood displacement, public-private partnerships, and the growing importance of community land trusts as a tool for preserving affordability for future generations.
Panelists included Becky Bass, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Community Land Trust; Donna VanNess, President of Housing Channel; Jeremy Smith, President of the Rainwater Charitable Foundation; and Maggie J. Parker, Founder of Innovan Neighborhoods. The discussion was moderated by Michelle Thomas, Head of Philanthropy for JPMorganChase in Texas.
During the event, JPMorganChase announced a $1.1 million philanthropic investment to support community-based builders and nonprofit developers working to expand attainable housing opportunities throughout Fort Worth. The investment will help strengthen FWCLT’s Community Developers Program, an initiative designed to equip local developers with training, technical assistance, and access to land to support affordable housing production.
The event also celebrated the continued growth of Carroll Park, a planned South Fort Worth affordable homeownership community expected to include more than 200 permanently affordable homes. Several homes currently available through the program are priced starting around $135,000, helping create pathways to homeownership for income-qualified families.
Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing North Texas communities.
“When I started in development years ago, we were building homes that sold for around $78,000 with down payment assistance,” said Donna VanNess, President of Housing Channel. “Today, many of those same homes are worth more than $300,000.”
Panelists highlighted how the Community Land Trust model helps reduce upfront housing costs while preserving affordability long-term by separating ownership of the home from ownership of the land. Under the model, homeowners purchase the home while the land remains under the stewardship of the nonprofit organization, helping stabilize housing costs and protect future affordability.
Leaders also addressed concerns surrounding rapidly increasing property taxes and neighborhood displacement, noting that predictable appreciation structures within the CLT model can help families remain rooted in their communities while still building wealth over time.
A powerful moment during the event came from Ashley Guinn, the first homeowner to purchase through the Fort Worth Community Land Trust model. Guinn shared how rising housing costs once made homeownership feel out of reach, despite her background in the mortgage industry.
“This program opened a door that honestly felt impossible before,” Guinn shared. “For the first time in a long time, it truly feels like calm.”
Her story reinforced the larger mission behind FWCLT’s work — creating not only affordable housing opportunities, but also stability, economic mobility, and long-term community investment for future generations.
As Fort Worth continues to grow, FWCLT and its partners remain committed to collaborative solutions that expand access to sustainable homeownership while preserving the neighborhoods and communities that families call home.
