Building A Better SLO Presents Community Land Trust: Peacekeeping for the local Placekeepers

Thursday, March 5th 2026 | Doors Open at 5:45

Ofelia Bello joins Building a Better SLO to share hands-on experience with one potential solution: the Community Land Trust (CLT). As Program Director of Community Owned Real Estate at EPACANDO and PAHALI Community Land Trust in her hometown of East Palo Alto, Ofelia will share how community land trusts work, benefits of the CLT model, and examples of current projects.

This important but relatively uncommon form of housing is gaining attention as communities look for innovative ways to increase housing affordability, especially for long-term residents. Community land trusts are not-for-profit organizations that acquire and hold land in perpetuity on behalf of the community for housing and other community serving purposes. Ofelia will illustrate how CLTs can preserve affordable homeownership opportunities through the long-term leasing of land under owner-occupied homes.

Pahali is a community land trust serving the residents of East Palo Alto with the mission of “placekeeping for the local placekeepers.” Pahali operated as a volunteer-run organization until 2020, when it entered into an administrative merger with East Palo Alto Community Alliance & Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO). Through this partnership, Pahali Community Land Trust has expanded its capacity to empower community members to increase control of their housing situations. Pahali’s aims to steward and expand the East Palo Alto community’s portfolio of permanently affordable homeownership opportunities. The CLT envisions an East Palo Alto where all residents enjoy housing stability, empowering them to be stewards of their homes.

Prior to her staff role, Ofelia served on the Pahali Board of Directors for six years. She has a passion for housing justice, civic engagement, youth development, and social movement work; and brings eight years of experience in tenant rights’ organizing and public policy, with an emphasis on housing policy. Ofelia previously served on the East Palo Alto Planning Commission and has held elected office in East Palo Alto within a special district. When Ofelia is not working or volunteering, she is likely exploring the Bay Area, looking for her next favorite food spot, park, or history museum.

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