OHT: A Brief History
Olympic Housing Trust (OHT) exists to ensure that people who live and work on the Olympic Peninsula can continue to do so—now and in the future.
OHT was created to create permanently affordable housing with long-term solutions rooted in land stewardship, community partnership, and local accountability.
The organization’s work is grounded in the community land trust model, which removes land from the speculative market and preserves it for shared benefit. Through this approach, OHT helps create homes that remain affordable across generations while supporting the stability of individuals, families, and the broader community.
Originally founded in 2005 as the Homeward Bound Community Land Trust,
OHT emerged from local concern about the rapid loss of attainable housing in Jefferson and Clallam Counties. The organization became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006 and began building the foundation for long-term housing stewardship in the region.
In 2008, OHT received a Washington State Housing Trust Fund grant that enabled a partnership with the City of Port Angeles. Through this effort, the organization preserved several homes that otherwise would have been removed or demolished. Between 2009 and 2012, five homes were placed into the community land trust, providing stable homeownership opportunities to local residents who would not have been able to purchase on the open market. These early projects established the organization’s practical experience and demonstrated the long-term value of permanently affordable homeownership.
In 2017, the City of Port Townsend invited OHT to participate in an ambitious affordable housing effort involving the relocation and rehabilitation of a mid-century apartment building known as The Carmel. While the project ultimately proved infeasible due to unforeseen structural and infrastructure challenges, it marked an important period of learning and organizational growth. Following this effort, the Board undertook a period of reflection, restructuring, and renewed focus on building organizational capacity and resilience.
That work laid the groundwork for OHT’s current chapter. In 2022, the organization formally launched its first new construction project in Jefferson County: Dundee Hill Community Homes.
Made possible through the generous donation of land from longtime housing advocate and founding board member Pete Von Christierson, the project will provide five permanently affordable homes for households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income. Construction is underway as of summer 2025.
Today, Olympic Housing Trust continues to grow with a clear mission and a steady approach—combining long-term stewardship, thoughtful development, and strong community partnerships to ensure that housing on the Olympic Peninsula remains accessible for generations to come.
Dundee Hill Community Homes
