State College Community Land Trust

State College Community Land Trust Creating & stewarding forever affordable, energy-efficient homes for low-moderate income households

For 20 years, the State College Community Land Trust has partnered with over 50 individuals and families to become successful homeowners in the Borough. Our goal is to sustain the character, vibrancy, and diversity of the Borough community by answering the ongoing need for affordable housing and increasing home ownership. SCCLT acquires homes and land, rehabilitates homes for durability and energy

efficiency, educates and counsels homebuyers, and promotes the well-being of the neighborhoods. To keep home prices affordable, the SCCLT buys a house and the land, and sells only the house to an applicant who meets income guidelines set by Borough government. The land is leased to the homeowner in a long-term agreement to ensure its use for home ownership. A land trust reduces the cost of a home by at least 30 percent. In exchange, homeowners can sell the house in the future to another qualified family or back to SCCLT, based on a resale formula. SCCLT is one of over 200 community land trusts in the U.S., which provide permanently affordable housing for many working people who are vital to our quality of life and our community's well-being. Our work is funded by federal, state, and local government grants, private donations, and business and foundation support. SCCLT is a member-based, registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

🎨 It’s TODAY! 🎉Join us tonight from 6–8pm at 3 Dots Downtown (137 E. Beaver Ave. State College) for our 30th Anniversary...
04/03/2026

🎨 It’s TODAY! 🎉

Join us tonight from 6–8pm at 3 Dots Downtown (137 E. Beaver Ave. State College) for our 30th Anniversary Celebration and the opening of Home is Where the Art Is art exhibit. This is a free celebration of community, creativity, 30 years of affordable housing, and YOU our supporters!

✨ Featured artists:

🎨 Aliana Preciado Higgins: Ali is an illustrator whose work blends storytelling and abstracted human forms to explore themes of home, love, and memory through a nostalgic lens.

🎨 Ariel Oki: Ariel is an artist whose work explores perception, landscape, and the human form, creating thoughtful pieces that invite moments of calm and reflection. View more of her work here: http://arieloki.com/

🎨 Stephanie Koller: Stephanie is a social practice artist who uses collaborative, exploratory processes to create meaningful work that reflects connection, growth, and shared human experience.

Come experience their incredible work alongside so many talented local artists, enjoy refreshments, speakers, explore the exhibit, and enter to win amazing raffle prizes!

🏡 Land in Trust. Homes in Reach. Forever.

We hope to see you there ❤️

🎉 Join us TOMORROW from 6–8pm at 3 Dots Downtown for the opening of Home is Where the Art Is art exhibit—this free eve...
04/02/2026

🎉 Join us TOMORROW from 6–8pm at 3 Dots Downtown for the opening of Home is Where the Art Is art exhibit—this free event celebrates SCCLT's 30th Anniversary!

🎨 Meet the Artists

📸 Zsuzsanna Nagy is a Hungarian-American photographer whose work transforms everyday moments into something atmospheric and expressive—capturing the feeling of a fleeting moment through blur, light, and abstraction.
View more of her work: https://zzphoto.myportfolio.com/

🎨 Jeff Pellas is a multidisciplinary artist and SCCLT homeowner whose vibrant watercolor work brings movement and drama to life through bold color and striking perspective. For this show, he delves into a world of acrylic.

🎟️ Raffle Spotlight: Thank you, generous donors!
🚲 A bike helmet from The Bike Shop The Bicycle Shop
🦃 A turkey from HoneyBaked Ham and a handcrafted cutting board by SCCLT homeowner and board president Ben Wideman The Honey Baked Ham Company
🎁 A kids basket from WPSU WPSU

Support local artists + affordable housing ❤️
Get your raffle tickets → www.scclandtrust.org/raffle
RSVP: https://forms.gle/GKWPP8codzDkNLRz5

Please take a moment to Vote for State College Community Land Trust!Vote here: https://forms.gle/wdWVsFtby8qTFGrj7
04/01/2026

Please take a moment to Vote for State College Community Land Trust!
Vote here: https://forms.gle/wdWVsFtby8qTFGrj7

State College Community Land Trust
A Home That Lasts: 30 Years of Impact
Twenty-five years ago, Bob and Pam Smerbeck left behind their cramped apartment on Aaron Drive and unlocked the door to their own home. Pam still remembers seeing it for the first time: the welcoming living room, spacious kitchen, and large backyard perfect for playing wiffle ball. The five-bedroom house was just what their family needed. Over the years, the Smerbecks raised their four children there — students at Our Lady of Victory and State High, with three later graduating from Penn State. They nurtured connections with neighbors, sharing vegetables from their backyard garden. Bob built his career at AccuWeather, and was active in the St. Paul’s men’s group, while the home itself became the center of family life. Today, as they celebrate 25 years in their home, the Smerbecks reflect on what it has meant to their family. “This home has been a blessing” Bob says. Pam adds, “We’ve made a tradition of Sunday dinners with our kids — now grown — andtheir partners. Someday we hope to have grandchildren playing in our backyard. ”Their story is one of many made possible by the State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT), which for 30 years has worked to ensure that the people who contribute to the community can afford to live in it.
Founded in 1996, SCCLT creates and stewards permanently affordable homes for first time homebuyers in the State College Borough. The organization has preserved 57 “Forever Homes” and helped 85 working households achieve homeownership.The organization rehabilitates aging houses and preserves owner-occupied homes, strengthening neighborhoods. The mission has expanded to include improving the energy efficiency of homes, making a meaningful difference in monthly affordability. Recognizing that affordable rentals are often a first step toward homeownership, SCCLTexpanded its work in 2021 with OBR townhomes and flats, developed in collaboration with the HOME Foundation and the State College Borough. The project created a total of 8 town homes and 2 much-needed one-bedroom affordable apartments, including one accessible unit. To mark its 30th anniversary, SCCLT has created “Home Is Where the Art Is,” a unique community art exhibit opening April 3 from 6-8pm, at 3 Dots Downtown, featuring work from local artists and children exploring the meaning of home. All are welcome. Vote here: https://forms.gle/wdWVsFtby8qTFGrj7

🎨 Here is your Day 6 Artist Sneak Peek! brings incredible thoughtfulness and intentionality to his work. The creative pr...
03/31/2026

🎨 Here is your Day 6 Artist Sneak Peek!

brings incredible thoughtfulness and intentionality to his work. The creative process he developed for this piece involved not only the family he was paired with, but also their broader community. Lucky for us, Eric will be sharing more about his experience with this project onstage at 3 Dots Downtown during our 30th Anniversary Celebration and opening reception of Home is Where the Art Is, this Friday from 6–8pm.

🎟️ Raffle Spotlight – Experience-Based Prizes:
🍿 4 movie passes to UEC Theatres
🎢 2 all-day fun passes to DelGrosso’s Amusement Park & Laguna Splash
🎭 2 tickets to PSU Centre for the Performing Arts
🔬 3 tickets to Discovery Space
🤸 4 two-hour passes to Get Air

View more of Eric’s work: https://ericanthonyberdis.com/

Delicious food will be catered by Harrison's Eat Well Catering!
03/31/2026

Delicious food will be catered by Harrison's Eat Well Catering!

💛 Community makes this work possibleA huge thank you to our supporting sponsor Ameriserv Financial, Inc.! We couldn't do...
03/27/2026

💛 Community makes this work possible

A huge thank you to our supporting sponsor Ameriserv Financial, Inc.! We couldn't do our work without your support.

🎨 Featuring Margalo: Through her vibrant murals, Margalo collaborates with communities to tell meaningful stories—her work can be spotted around town at Boal City Brewing, Schlow Library, and the 3 Dots Downtown building.

View more of her work at Margalomurals.com and be sure to stop by the exhibit on April 3rd to see her work at Home is Where the Art is.

🎟️ Raffle prizes:
Win a 5-class pass from PYP Cycle Yoga Barre Fitness Studio, a $25 Gift Card to Rothrock Coffee , or a Level 1 Service worth $90 from Two Brothers Bike Co—thank you to these amazing local businesses for their generous donations!

Support the mission → https://www.scclandtrust.org/raffle

🎟️ Raffle and Artist Spotlight!Check out these amazing prizes:✨ $15 Gift Card from Tait Farms and a bottle of their famo...
03/26/2026

🎟️ Raffle and Artist Spotlight!

Check out these amazing prizes:
✨ $15 Gift Card from Tait Farms and a bottle of their famous Raspberry Shrub
✨ $50 Gift Card to the Greek restaurant
✨ Artwork from local artists. Thank you Michael Freeman and Kate Bischoff!

Plus, don’t miss artwork on display for the month of April at Home is Where the Art Is from:
🎨 Jason Smoyer: Jason is a fine art photographer and Army veteran whose work blends traditional techniques with experimental composition to capture powerful, emotion-driven images. Check out his work on his website at https://www.jasonsmoyerphotography.com/

Every ticket supports affordable housing 🏡
Enter now → https://www.scclandtrust.org/raffle

Address

1315 S Allen Street, # 306
State College, PA
16801

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Our Story

For over 20 years, the State College Community Land Trust has partnered with over 60 individuals and families to create successful homeowners in the Borough. Our goal is to sustain the character, vibrancy, and diversity of the Borough community by answering the ongoing need for affordable housing and increasing home ownership. SCCLT acquires homes and land, rehabilitates homes for durability and energy efficiency, educates and counsels homebuyers, and promotes the well-being of the neighborhoods. To keep home prices affordable, the SCCLT buys a house and the land, and sells only the house to an applicant who meets income guidelines set by Borough government. The land is leased to the homeowner in a long-term agreement to ensure its use for home ownership. A land trust reduces the cost of a home by at least 30 percent. In exchange, homeowners can sell the house in the future to another qualified family or back to SCCLT, based on a resale formula. SCCLT is one of over 200 community land trusts in the U.S., which provide permanently affordable housing for many working people who are vital to our quality of life and our community's well-being. Our work is funded by federal, state, and local government grants, private donations, and business and foundation support. SCCLT is a member-based, registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation.