Sen. Mark Warner on Thursday introduced the Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY) Act, a federal bill designed to help faith-based organizations and higher education institutions build or preserve affordable housing on land they already own. The proposal would provide federal grants and technical assistance for planning, permitting and construction, and offer $50 million a year in incentives to encourage local governments to update zoning rules that can block such projects.
Supporters say the measure is aimed at easing a nationwide housing shortage and rising homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported an 18% increase in homelessness in 2024, and advocates point to an estimated shortfall of nearly 4 million homes nationwide. Warner said faith communities and universities often own underutilized parcels in higher-opportunity neighborhoods and that outdated zoning and local red tape frequently prevent them from converting those parcels into affordable housing.
Under the bill’s key provisions, eligible institutions could receive federal funding for feasibility studies, site planning, permitting and construction costs for projects that create homes for low-income renters, veterans and families at risk of homelessness. The legislation also would supply technical assistance to help congregations and campuses navigate financing, regulatory requirements and project development.
The YIGBY Act builds on local efforts that allow religious institutions to develop housing on their property. California enacted a law with similar aims in 2023, and advocates say a federal program could extend the concept nationwide, especially in markets where land is scarce and prices are rising.
Advocates cite research showing substantial potential in institutional land holdings. A 2023 report from the University of California, Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation found that more than half of developable land owned by faith-based and higher education institutions in California is located in neighborhoods categorized as "high" or "highest" opportunity, which typically offer better economic, education and health outcomes. In San Francisco, the report found 98% of that developable land was located near high-quality transit.
Local nonprofit developers have already turned some of that potential into housing. In Boise, Idaho, LEAP Housing — a nonprofit founded by longtime YIGBY advocates — converted a church parking lot into two family-sized homes with rents set roughly 50% below market rate. LEAP’s founder, Bart Cochran, said the organization steps in to secure financing, cut through permitting delays and serve as developer or lender when congregations do not have the capacity to complete a project on their own.
Warner framed the legislation as a pragmatic, community-centered response to the housing crisis. "Faith communities and universities are deeply embedded in our towns and cities," he said in a statement. "They often own underutilized land and facilities that could be repurposed for affordable housing. For too long, outdated zoning rules have stood in the way of creative solutions to our housing shortage. … I felt it was time to elevate this conversation nationally." Warner said he has heard interest from congregations and faith leaders in his home state of Virginia.
Proponents argue the bill has bipartisan appeal. They say it offers a low-cost option that leans on existing institutions and local partnerships rather than creating a large new federal bureaucracy. Supporters from across the political spectrum have described it as a solution that can both expand housing supply and preserve neighborhood character by using community-trusted institutions as partners.
Institutional-scale attempts to expand affordable housing also have precedent among national nonprofit developers. Enterprise, a national organization cited by supporters, says it has created or preserved more than 1 million affordable homes over 43 years and currently supports about 23,000 residents in properties it manages. Advocates point to that record as evidence that scaled, organized effort can produce housing at the needed scale.
The YIGBY Act would target assistance toward projects that serve households most affected by housing cost burdens. Advocates note roughly 7.2 million U.S. households are classified as severely cost-burdened, paying a large share of income for housing. Backers of the bill say federal grants and incentives could help congregations and campuses convert underused land in higher-opportunity neighborhoods into homes that are affordable to those residents.
The bill’s next steps depend on securing sponsors and support in both chambers of Congress and on negotiations over funding and program design. Warner said he has heard from colleagues on both sides of the aisle who recognize the role faith-based organizations could play in expanding housing options, but the measure’s prospects will hinge on legislative priorities and fiscal negotiations in a divided Congress.
If enacted, the YIGBY Act would be among several federal proposals aimed at increasing housing supply and affordability by reducing regulatory barriers and directing resources to local partners. Supporters say the bill would convert untapped institutional assets into affordable homes while encouraging local zoning reforms that make such projects feasible.