Naugatuck Valley Project

02/13/2026

We were co-presenters on a webinar apanel last month on the community land trusts of Connecticut. Watch to learn more about how CLTs are a tool for permanent affordable housing in rural, suburban and urban Connecticut.

Community land trusts (CLTs) are nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. During this disc...

02/13/2026

We moderated this panel with Champlain Housing Trust’s Brenda Torpy. Leading the org for over 29 years, she spoke about CHT’s operational and managerial breakthroughs to scale to now stewarding over 3,000 units, making CHT the largest community land trust in the world.

This discussion will explore the practical aspects of managing community land trusts, nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rur...

02/04/2026

We express our deepest condolences to the family of past NVP President Bonnie I. (Irwin) Odiorne

For those who knew her, and those interested, here are the details for Bonnie Odiorne's funeral service.

https://www.prospectmemorialfh.com/obituary/Bonnie-Odiorne

We pray that her friends and loved ones find comfort and peace in these difficult times in the arms of a loving God, and remind everyone that we are always available should you need it. 🙏

01/21/2026

Honored to be mentioned as an example in stewardship of limited equity housing cooperatives in the Partnership for Strong Communities inaugural "State of Housing in CT" report. Go to the link and see their boosting of community land trusts, housing co-ops, and more.

Housing is the foundation of opportunity. It shapes where we live, learn, and work, and how our communities thrive. Yet too many Connecticut residents continue to struggle to find or keep an affordable home.

12/15/2025

Watch this 90-minute webinar with us in conversation with Grounded Solutions Network's Jason Webb on the basics, fundamentals and history of community land trusts (CLTs)

Community land trusts are nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. This discussion with Ja...

11/26/2025

Check out our panel at the Partnership for Strong Communities CAHC 2025, where we discussed the strong track record of union-built & -financed affordable housing which includes tens of thousands of limited equity housing cooperative units. We hope this is a pathway for more cooperative housing in Connecticut.

Panelists in this session discussed the transformative potential of union-financed and union-built affordable housing in Connecticut, as well as its powerful...

11/18/2025

Join us for three webinars in December 2025 and early 2026 to learn about the power of community land trusts!

Community land trusts are nonprofit organizations that preserve housing affordability by acquiring land and ensuring the homes built on that land remain affordable. Join us for a three-part webinar series, hosted in partnership with the Naugatuck Valley Project and the All In Alliances, to hear local and national experts share how this model can support a better housing future in Connecticut.

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Community Land Trusts 101
📅 Dec. 11, 2025, 6:30–8:00 PM
🎙️ Alex Kolokotronis, Director, Naugatuck Valley Project(Moderator)
🎙️ Jason Webb, Community & Technical Assistance Principal, Grounded Solutions Network

Get an introduction to how CLTs work and why they matter as housing costs rise and displacement grows.

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Community Land Trusts of Connecticut
📅 Jan. 14, 2026, 6:30–8:00 PM
🎙️ John Harney, President — Salisbury Housing Trust
🎙️ Alex Kolokotronis, Director — Naugatuck Valley Project
🎙️ Mirna Martinez, Executive Director — Southeastern Connecticut Community Land Trust
🎙️ Rachel Merva, Board Member — Beth-El Center (Moderator)

Hear real examples across CT, from urban multi-unit developments to suburban and rural models. Learn how they operate, partner with local governments, and support residents long-term.

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Managing Community Land Trusts
📅 Feb. 11, 2026, 6:30–8:00 PM
🎙️ Alex Kolokotronis, Director — Naugatuck Valley Project (Moderator)
🎙️ Brenda Torpy, Lead Consultant — Champlain Housing Trust

Dive into the practical aspects of managing a CLT, including board roles, property oversight, leases, financing, and more.

11/11/2025

We will be presenting at the CT Affordable Housing Conference about limited equity housing cooperatives financed & built by labor unions, as best exemplified in the U.S. by the Mitchell-Lama housing cooperatives. We will hear about affordable housing financed & built by union labor today via the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust, and from the Connecticut State Building Trades Council representing approximately 30,000 union construction workers across the state.

10/29/2025

Always feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

10/13/2025

10/09/2025

Our work is featured in Shelterforce today: "While New York City and Chicago often get attention for their housing cooperatives, and CLTs are treated as a hot new trend, Brookside has been quietly sustaining itself in suburban Connecticut for over three decades. How has it done so? The co-op’s strength largely comes from being part of the Naugatuck Valley Project, an alliance of 23 dues-paying groups, including congregations, labor unions, and ethnic organizations."

Connecticut's Naugatuck Valley Project grew out of factory closures in the 1980s and has helped to found and sustain six affordable housing co-ops.