Sawmill Community Land Trust

Overview

The previous site had begun to feel dated, and visitors struggled to find what they needed most: housing information, income guidelines, and a clear path to the application. The organization also deserved a place to tell its story alongside those practical resources.

We delivered a fresh design and a ground-up WordPress build that re-used and reorganized existing content, filled in important gaps, and made the experience easier for people looking for housing and for others learning about the trust’s history and work.

Challenge

This was largely a content and information-architecture problem: the right material existed or needed light additions, but it had to be discoverable and approachable for applicants and the community—not buried or scattered.

• An aging presentation that did not match how people browse for housing help today
• Critical details—programs, income guidelines, applications—needed to be obvious, not a scavenger hunt
• Room to surface organizational history and trust-building context alongside transactional pages

Approach

We chose WordPress so the team could update copy, pages, and structure on their own after launch. The build balanced speed with a templated, editor-friendly setup: enough consistency for a polished public face, enough flexibility for them to adjust as programs and messaging evolve without calling a developer for every tweak.

Outcome

The new site is cleaner and more contemporary, with clearer paths to the information applicants need. Navigation and content work together so housing details, guidelines, and applications are easier to find, and the organization’s story sits alongside that practical help.

Since launch, demand for their housing and programs has remained very strong, and they continue to take on a full workload—including growing their housing footprint and related offerings.