Housing in God’s Backyard Picks Up As Cities Seek New Ways to Close the Affordable Housing Gap

Like many churches across the United States, the number of worshippers at Grace has dropped over the last few decades, leaving empty swaths of parking lots and other underutilized land. The church was committed to helping those in need in Walnut Creek, but it assumed creating affordable housing was beyond its reach.
ULI: Affordable Housing, YIGBY

Affordable Housing: YIGBY® (“Yes in God’s Backyard”) Movement Seeks to Counter NIMBY Movement

A tsunami of emptying houses of worship—up to 100,000 according to one religious source—is washing across America. Developing intelligent reuses and redevelopments for these properties will make the difference between a community flourishing and struggling.

Yes in God’s Back Yard Wants to Build Homes For Those Most in Need of Them

“One of the problems that they have in San Diego, especially, is getting affordable housing in neighborhoods because a lot of people don’t want you to build affordable housing,” the Rev. Harvey Vaughn III said. He believed that his church could be part of the solution.

VIDEO – Plan to let houses of worship build affordable housing could expand across California

VIDEO Presentation—A San Diego plan to let houses of worship build affordable housing on land they already own could expand across the entire state. Tuesday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee will debate Senate Bill 899, also known as the "YIGBY" bill.

Plan to let houses of worship build affordable housing could expand across California

A San Diego plan to let houses of worship build affordable housing on land they already own could expand across the entire state. Tuesday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee will debate Senate Bill 899, also known as the "YIGBY" bill.
Ruby Awards

YIGBY® wins a Ruby Award from the San Diego Housing Federation!

The Ruby Awards recognize excellence in affordable housing and community development, highlighting the accomplishments of people, agencies and developments that work to ensure all San Diegans, regardless of income, have a safe, stable place they can afford to call home.

Churches Are Building Housing Developments ‘in God’s Back Yard’

The Arlington Presbyterian Church in Virginia was dealing with declining Sunday attendance, and fewer donations, before deciding to turn to an affordable housing developer for help. In 2016, with membership down to about 60 from a height of 1,000 in the 1950s, the church sold its...

YIGBY® Initiative Partners with San Diego’s Oldest African American Church to Build Housing for Seniors and Veterans Experiencing Homelessness

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Bethel AME), has signed on...

Place-Based Impact Investing Collaborations: Opportunities For Cross-Sector Partnerships That Drive Change

Foundation leaders and philanthropists who have place-focused missions [...] are increasingly asking...