CLCLIFE.ORG — PUBLIC RECORD · DOC 03, MEMBERSHIPTARGET AREA: VALLEY CENTER, SAN DIEGO COUNTY · 33.21° N, 117.03° WPHASE ONE · UPDATED 2026-07

DOC 03 — MEMBERSHIP · INTEREST LIST OPEN

Founding members wanted.

The first village will be built by the people who live in it. Here's what that means, honestly.

FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP — AT A GLANCE

ENTRY$20,000 Founding Member Contribution, one-time
MONTHLY$500 — or 40 hours/month of community service
OWNERSHIPThe nonprofit owns all homes, permanently
IF YOU LEAVELifetime return rights to any available CLC home
TAX STATUSThe contribution is NOT tax-deductible

A written membership agreement spells everything out before you pay anything.

§ 01 — WHO THIS IS FOR

Willingness matters more than résumé.

People who want a simpler, more connected life and are willing to build it — literally. We especially need people with hands-on skills: construction, gardening and farming, cooking, healthcare, teaching, repair, administration. But willingness matters more than résumé; every skill we need can be taught.

CONSTRUCTIONGARDENING & FARMINGCOOKINGHEALTHCARETEACHINGREPAIRADMINISTRATION

§ 02 — THE TWO PATHS

Two ways to live here.

PATH A — FOUNDING MEMBER

AVAILABLE NOW · INTEREST LIST

Build the village. Shape everything.

ENTRY$20,000 one-time Founding Member Contribution
MONTHLY$500 — or 40 hours/month of service
MOVE-INAs the first homes are completed

Shape the village's design, culture, and rules. Lifetime return rights to available homes across the CLC network.

The contribution is not tax-deductible and is not a real-estate purchase — the nonprofit owns the home. It's the shared cost of bringing the village into existence.

JOIN THE INTEREST LIST →

PATH B — SPONSORED RESIDENT

FUTURE PHASE

A home with no entry contribution.

ENTRYNone
MONTHLY$500 — or community work-share only
PRIORITYVeterans, seniors, young adults aging out of foster care

Funded by member dues and donations — founding members and donors are how these doors get built.

WANT TO FUND A SPONSORED HOME? →

§ 03 — HOW PLACEMENT WORKS

Placement, not gatekeeping.

We don't screen people out — we help people land well. Our placement process looks at your skills, interests, rhythms, and what you want from community life, so that your role, your neighbors, and your daily routine fit you from day one. Roles rotate seasonally, and you can request a change whenever something stops fitting.

§ 04 — THE JOURNEY · A REAL SEQUENCE

From name on a list to neighbor.

1

Join the interest list

YOU ARE HERE

Two minutes, no commitment.

2

Meet us

Weekly Discord gatherings; conversations with Cecil and other prospective founders.

3

Full application

Sent when we reach the land milestone. Skills, needs, and expectations in depth.

4

Three-month integration

Live and work with the community before full membership, with a mentor. Either side can decide it's not the right fit, respectfully.

5

Membership

Contribution completed, covenant signed, home assigned as construction allows.

§ 05 — STRAIGHT ANSWERS, UP FRONT

Do I own my home?

No — the nonprofit does, permanently. That's what keeps it affordable forever. You'll never buy it, and you'll never be priced out of it.

What if I leave?

You can leave anytime. Monthly contributions stop. The Founding Member Contribution is not refunded — it's built into land and homes — but you keep lifetime return rights to any available CLC home.

Is the $20,000 tax-deductible?

No. Because it's connected to residency, the IRS doesn't treat it as a charitable gift. Donations through our Give page are deductible.

§ 06 — THE INTEREST LIST

Join the interest list.

No commitment. We'll keep you posted on land progress, gatherings, and milestones — and you'll be first in line when full applications open.

I'M INTERESTED AS A… *