Yes in God's Backyard Act

H.R. 7152, the Yes in God's Backyard Act, would establish a federal grant program to help faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments develop affordable rental housing. The bill would provide technical assistance and competitive grants to eligible applicants that have policies designed to remove barriers to affordable housing development on property owned by these organizations. Affordable housing would be defined as rental units charging no more than 30 percent of a household's income.

If enacted, the bill would allow grant recipients to use funds for several purposes, including assessing and removing local zoning and policy barriers, providing technical assistance to faith-based and educational organizations, and making grants or loans to specific housing projects. The legislation aims to address housing shortages and rising homelessness by leveraging land already owned by religious institutions and universities. The bill is currently under consideration in the House Committee on Financial Services and has not yet been voted on by the full chamber.