The YIGBY Movement: Unlocking Church-Owned Land for Affordable Housing

As the housing crisis deepens, interest in the YIGBY, or Yes In God's Backyard, movement has been gaining traction. The movement pushes for legal reforms to remove restrictive zoning laws that prohibit religious property from being used as anything else.

YIGBY laws have been adopted in cities like Atlanta, Georgia, and San Antonio, Texas; and proposed in states like New York, Virginia, and Hawaii.

In this reported piece, Shelterforce's Frances Nguyen explores the growing movement and how congregations like The Neighborhood Congregational Church (NCC) in Laguna Beach are reimagining their role in the community by developing affordable housing. California’s new YIGBY law, SB 4, will help make NCC's efforts more plausible.

Faith-based housing initiatives are also progressing in New York, where advocates argue that zoning reform can help combat the state’s housing crisis. Despite concerns over preserving historical religious sites, proponents see faith communities as essential partners in addressing housing shortages while preserving their own financial stability and community missions.