Our History
2008:
With foreclosures increasing in Boston, particularly in neighborhoods with high percentages of lower income and Black and Latino households, some 25 tenant, community, nonprofit, legal and government agencies and organizations came together and formed the Coalition for Occupied Homes in Foreclosure (COHIF). Central to this new effort were concerns about the fate of occupied foreclosed homes. COHIF was primarily concerned with finding solutions to allow residents of these properties — both owners and tenants -- to stay in their homes despite the threat or reality of foreclosure, and to insure that the properties continue to be occupied without interruption, thereby avoiding the negative, destabilizing effects of vacant properties on the surrounding neighborhood.
2010:
In collaboration with several advocacy groups, COHIF was successful in achieving the passage of just-cause eviction protections for tenants in foreclosed properties (hyperlink to Tenant Protections in Foreclosed Properties, An Act Relative to Mortgage Foreclosures).
COHIF begins many years of working closely with City Life / Vida Urbana Post‐Foreclosure Eviction Defense Campaign, or Bank Tenant Organizing Campaign that embraces “the sword and the shield.” The “shield” refers to the organization’s work with tenants and homeowners informing them of their rights through legal assistance. The “sword” refers to various types of direct campaigns, which encourage residents to stay in their homes. Through this organizing approach, partners and tenants identified dozens of properties potentially suitable for COHIF to acquire.
2012
COHIF launches Greater Four Corners Pilot Project, or Phase 1, targeting the Greater Four Corners area of Dorchester, which had been particularly hard hit by foreclosures (more than double that of the City of Boston) and with a disproportionately large number of people of color and low‐income households. The goal is to maintain neighborhood stability by ensuring that homes never become vacant and that existing residents could stay in their homes either as tenants or as owners at affordable levels -- and to have community control of the housing.
COHIF and its partners engage 200 tenants to mount its campaign to identify potential properties to acquire in order to protect tenants at risk of losing their homes.
COHIF advocates for the Rental Inspection Ordinance to establish stronger accountability of Real Estate-Owned (REO) and investor owned properties to benefit tenants of foreclosed properties, as well as to establish a regulatory tool to help with negotiated sales of properties to COHIF.
2014
COHIF, Inc officially incorporates as a 501-c-3 Non-Profit. Working with a private developer, COHIF, Inc. now has four properties (11 homes) in the Pilot Project, with one property targeted to be acquired by Codman Square CDC, who will sell it as part of their affordable home ownership program.
2016
COHIF wins second prize for the Home Funders Innovation Competition for its approach to acquire occupied housing as a means to prevent displacement in Dorchester neighborhoods.
COHIF continues to work with owners and tenants of foreclosed properties, and identifies two properties to be acquired through City’s IDP program.
COHIF supports launch of Greater Boston CLT network.
2017
Construction on Phase 1 completed and residents return to their units. COHIF holds a total of four buildings with ten units. Nine out of the ten units are occupied by previous tenants.
COHIF moves offices from downtown Boston to Dorchester.
2018
Cohif selected to present at Grounded Solutions Ignite Pitchfest.
Awarded Hyams Technical Assistance Grant and ECM Burgess grant to support CLT transition
Construction on Phase 2 completed and residents return to building. There are two properties in this phase, and a total of five units. One building has the former owner of the home who would have lost it due to foreclosure, but is able to remain after significant reconstruction. The other building was vacant at the time of purchase, but new tenants meet affordable income requirements.
Launched leadership program for COHIF residents in partnership with CLVU through CLT Ambassador Program. Many of these participants went on to join the BNCLT board.
Prevented bank sale of 43 Elmont at auction; successfully bought property from the bank, owner is able to keep property.
2019/2020
COHIF partners with Fields Corner CDC to provide management services.
COHIF changes its structure and name to Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust, and inaugurates new Board of Directors.
Tenant leaders play an active role in offering peer learning on CLT model, and helping to shape BNCLT structure.
BNCLT hires its new Executive Director: Meridith Levy.
BNCLT moves to new office next to Dudley Square Neighborhood Initiative in Roxbury.