Sarah Mitchell
Texas bishops have backed the 'Yes in God's Backyard' bill, which would allow churches and other faith institutions to build affordable homes on their land. This is in response to Texas's shortage of 660,000 affordable rental units for low-income residents. The bill would enable congregations to develop their land without a full zoning change, providing that projects remain under non-profit control and meet affordability targets.
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What You'll Learn
- Texas bishops support the 'Yes in God's Backyard' bill to turn parish land into affordable homes
- Texas is short of 660,000 affordable rental units for low-income residents
- Vacant church land can be used to build affordable housing
- Catholic entities urged to inventory property and examine how it can help those without shelter
- The bill will let congregations develop parcels they've held for at least five years, without a full zoning change
Texas bishops support the 'Yes in God's Backyard' bill to turn parish land into affordable homes
Texas bishops have expressed their support for the "Yes in God's Backyard" bill, which would allow parishes to turn their land into affordable homes. The bill, also known as House Bill 3172 or YIGBY, would enable churches and other faith institutions to build mixed-income housing on their property, provided that at least half of the units remain affordable. This proposal is aimed at addressing the shortage of affordable rental units in Texas, which is estimated to be around 660,000 units for the state's lowest-income residents.
Jennifer Carr Allmon, the executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, has voiced her support for the bill. She stated that "Catholics believe that housing is a human right, and governments, the private sector, and the Church share responsibility to make sure people have a stable place to live." Allmon highlighted a successful example of a century-old parish that turned an acre of underused land into a project that rebuilt an aging school and created discounted apartments for seniors. She expects similar initiatives to emerge across Texas if zoning barriers are removed.
The bill's author, Gary Gates, who chairs the Land and Resource Management Committee, emphasized that unlocking church land addresses the fundamental issue of housing cost. He noted that "thirty percent of the cost of a house is the land." Gates also acknowledged the concerns of homeowner groups in affluent areas, who worry that subsidized apartments could negatively impact their property values. However, Allmon countered these concerns by pointing out that objections tend to diminish when people witness parishes partnering with developers to incorporate affordable housing into their communities.
The "Yes in God's Backyard" bill has already passed in the Senate, and the House version is currently under review by Governor Greg Abbott's policy team. If the House approves the bill, parishes could initiate construction as early as 2026. Similar legislation is also being advocated for in states like Colorado, Georgia, and Florida.
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Texas is short of 660,000 affordable rental units for low-income residents
Texas is facing a significant shortage of affordable rental units for its low-income residents, with a deficit of approximately 660,000 to 679,000 units. This issue is particularly acute in the state's major cities, such as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, which have even fewer available and affordable rental homes relative to the number of extremely low-income households. The shortage has been exacerbated by the state's rapid population growth, with Texas gaining 475,000 new residents from mid-2022 to mid-2023, particularly in North Texas. This influx of new residents has further strained the already limited supply of affordable housing.
The lack of affordable rental options has severe consequences for Texas's most vulnerable residents. Many low-income households are forced to spend a significant portion of their income on rent, often choosing between paying for their home or meeting other basic needs like food and medication. This situation leaves them highly vulnerable to eviction and the associated negative impacts on mental and physical health, education, and employment.
To address this pressing issue, Texas bishops have backed the "Yes in God's Backyard" bill, which aims to convert underutilized parish land into affordable housing. By unlocking church land, the bill seeks to rapidly increase the supply of affordable rental units. The bill's author, Gary Gates, highlights the potential cost savings, as land accounts for 30% of the cost of a house. The bill would allow congregations to develop parcels of land they have held for at least five years, up to five acres at a time, without requiring a full zoning change.
In addition to the "Yes in God's Backyard" bill, Texas offers several other affordable housing resources. The Texas Low Income Housing Information Service is a non-profit organization that supports low-income Texans in their efforts to find decent, affordable housing. The organization provides information on locating public housing authorities, rental assistance programs, and apartment complexes in their communities. Additionally, the state offers rental assistance programs such as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) program, which provides support for extremely low-income persons with disabilities. These programs aim to help low-income individuals and families secure safe and affordable housing, alleviating the burden of high rental costs.
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Vacant church land can be used to build affordable housing
Churches and other mission-driven institutions that want to build affordable housing for their communities on land they own face a complex and challenging development process. However, local governments can incentivize redevelopment that benefits the wider community and increases the supply of affordable housing. For example, the city of Seattle has identified about 300 acres of church-owned land and is offering a density bonus to churches that develop affordable housing on their land.
In Texas, Catholic bishops have backed the 'Yes in God's Backyard' bill, which would allow congregations to develop parcels of land they have held for at least five years, up to five acres at a time, without a full zoning change. The bill aims to address the shortage of affordable rental units for the state's lowest-income residents, estimated at 660,000 units.
Vacant church land can also play a role in aiding the work of environmental organizations. For instance, Molly Burhans, a devout Catholic, founded GoodLands, a nonprofit organization that aims to create an ecological land-use plan for the Catholic Church. By analyzing the ecological value of Catholic-owned properties in the U.S., GoodLands helps the Church manage its lands and make informed decisions about where to work based on mapping data.
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Catholic entities urged to inventory property and examine how it can help those without shelter
In 1988, bishops published a pastoral letter titled "The Right to a Decent Home", urging Catholic entities to inventory their property and examine how it could be used to help those without shelter. This letter inspired the "Yes in God's Backyard" bill, which would allow congregations to develop their parcels of land into affordable housing. The bill's author, Gary Gates, noted that unlocking church land tackles the root cost of housing.
Texas is facing a shortage of roughly 660,000 affordable rental units for its lowest-income residents. The "Yes in God's Backyard" bill, backed by Texas bishops, aims to address this issue by allowing parishes to turn their land into affordable homes. This measure would enable congregations to develop parcels of land they have held for at least five years, up to five acres at a time, without requiring a full zoning change. Projects must remain under nonprofit control and meet affordability targets.
Catholic entities have a long history of advocating for and providing affordable housing. Catholic Social Teaching principles emphasize the importance of dignified housing as a basic human right. The Church has reaffirmed that private property is not an absolute right and should be used for the common good. Catholic Charities agencies build, own, and manage housing for low-income families, seniors, and those with special needs. They also provide housing counselling and work to prevent homelessness through emergency rent payments and other support services.
The Catholic Church in the United States has been calling for more effective national housing policies since 1975. They have issued statements and letters highlighting the urgency of the housing crisis and the need for decent, adequate housing for all, especially the poor and vulnerable. The Church has been reaching out to provide shelter to tens of thousands of people and help millions of families avoid eviction. They also assist local self-help groups working to improve housing conditions for the underprivileged.
By examining their property and putting it to use for those without shelter, Catholic entities can make a significant impact in addressing the affordable housing shortage and ensuring that all members of their communities have access to safe and stable homes.
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The bill will let congregations develop parcels they've held for at least five years, without a full zoning change
Texas is facing a shortage of affordable rental units for its lowest-income residents. According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the state is short of roughly 660,000 affordable rental units. The "Yes in God's Backyard" bill aims to address this issue by allowing congregations to develop parcels of land they have held for at least five years, without the need for a full zoning change. This means that churches with unused land could turn it into affordable housing, providing much-needed relief for those struggling to find affordable rental options.
The bill's author, Gary Gates, highlighted the potential cost savings of utilising church land for housing development. By unlocking this land, the cost of housing development could be significantly reduced, as land costs account for 30% of the total cost of a house. Gates also emphasised that the bill includes an acreage cap of five acres to prevent large, planned communities from exploiting religious exemptions.
Supporters of the bill, such as Allmon, believe that it presents a unique opportunity to simultaneously address the need for affordable housing and expand ministry work. She points to successful examples of parish partnerships with developers, where underused land has been transformed into discounted apartments for seniors while also allowing for the rebuilding of aging schools. Allmon's stance aligns with the 1988 pastoral letter from the nation's bishops, urging Catholic entities to assess their property holdings and consider how they can better serve those lacking adequate housing.
The "Yes in God's Backyard" bill has gained support from Texas bishops and passed in the Senate in March. However, as of the publication of the article, the House version was still awaiting a committee vote while Gov. Greg Abbott's policy team reviewed it. With the legislative session ending in five weeks at the time, there was a sense of urgency to pass the bill without delay. Similar bills are also being pushed in Colorado, Georgia, and Florida, reflecting a broader recognition of the potential benefits of utilising vacant church land for affordable housing initiatives.
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