Miriam Osei-Bonsu
Executive Director
Miriam has led community land trust development in Maryland for over 15 years, previously directing housing programs at the Maryland Department of Housing.
Our Story
Housing is a foundation, not a commodity.
Bayit Community Land Trust was founded on a simple conviction: stable housing is the platform from which everything else in a person's life becomes possible. We hold land in permanent community trust so that affordability outlasts any single administration, funding cycle, or market shift.
Mission
Permanently affordable housing for Maryland communities.
2006
Year Bayit CLT was founded in Maryland
18
Maryland counties served
1,200+
Households stabilized since founding
The community land trust model separates the ownership of land from the ownership of the home built on it. Bayit CLT holds the land permanently, while residents own their homes at prices that remain affordable in perpetuity — not just for the first buyer, but for every family who comes after.
Housing instability doesn't happen in isolation. It is tangled with job loss, health crises, and transportation barriers. That's why Bayit CLT operates four integrated programs — housing stabilization, workforce navigation, community health, and transportation mobility — as a single coordinated system rather than isolated services.
We serve residents across all 18 Maryland counties, with multilingual intake support and a referral network that includes social workers, healthcare providers, faith communities, and government agencies.
"When land is held in trust for the community, it can never be taken away by the market. That permanence is what makes everything else possible."— Miriam Osei-Bonsu, Executive Director
Community Ownership
Land held in trust belongs to the community permanently. We remove land from the speculative market so it can serve people, not profit.
Dignity First
Every resident deserves stable housing as a foundation for health, work, and family. We build systems that honor that truth.
Long-Term Thinking
Quick fixes don't build communities. We invest in durable solutions — permanent affordability, workforce pathways, and lasting health.
Our Team
The people behind the work
Carlos Reyes
Director of Housing Stabilization
Carlos oversees rental assistance, eviction prevention, and CLT homeownership programs across 18 Maryland counties.
Amara Diallo
Community Health Worker Program Lead
Amara coordinates our CHW team and community health navigation services, with deep roots in Prince George's County.
Keisha Thompson
Workforce Navigation Director
Keisha builds employer partnerships and manages job placement support for residents navigating housing instability.
Community Partners
Built on a network of trust
Our programs work because of deep partnerships with government agencies, healthcare providers, legal advocates, and community organizations across Maryland.
Transportation Partner
Vehicles for Change
Authorized referral partner providing donated vehicles to low-income Maryland workers.
Government Partner
Maryland Dept. of Housing
State funding and policy alignment for affordable housing and CLT development.
Referral Partner
Prince George's County DSS
Case management referrals and coordinated services for county residents.
Health Partner
Baltimore City Health Dept.
Community health worker program coordination and public health alignment.
Legal Partner
Maryland Legal Aid
Eviction prevention legal services and tenant rights support for CLT residents.
Funding Partner
Capital One Community Finance
Community development financial institution supporting CLT land acquisition.
Get Involved
Join us in building a more stable Maryland.
Whether you need services, want to support our work, or are a professional looking to refer clients — there's a place for you in the Bayit community.
Our Commitment
What we stand for
- Permanent affordability — land held in trust, never returned to the speculative market.
- Integrated services — housing, jobs, health, and transportation as one system.
- Community voice — residents hold seats on our board and shape our programs.
- Multilingual access — intake support in Spanish, Amharic, French, and more.
Serving Maryland since
2006