WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced new legislation to help tackle the growing housing crisis in our country by helping faith-based organizations and institutions of higher education unlock the promise of their existing land holdings by transforming underused property into much-needed affordable housing. The Yes in God’s Back Yard (YIGBY) Act would provide resources and incentives to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing on property these institutions already own. 

“More Americans need housing that can fit their budgets,” said Senator Kim. “By building out this support and unlocking opportunity for our local faith-based groups and colleges, we can help build new paths to more affordable homes for more families, and on land already available in our communities.” 

“Too many families are getting priced out of their communities because of the skyrocketing cost of housing,” said Senator Warner. “If we want to make housing more affordable, we need to get creative and take advantage of opportunities that already exist. The YIGBY Act is about breaking down barriers and giving faith communities and colleges the support they need to put their land to work creating safe, affordable homes.” 

The YIGBY Act would: 

• Provide technical assistance to faith-based organizations and institutions of higher education seeking to use their land for affordable rental housing; 

• Provide technical assistance to local governments on best practices to streamline permitting and reduce barriers; and 

• Create $50 million per year in grants for communities that adopt policies removing barriers to affordable housing on property owned by faith-based organizations or colleges. 

The legislation is endorsed by the United Church of Christ, Lutheran Services in America, LeadingAge, True Ground Housing Partners, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Text of the bill is available here.  

New Jersey faces a severe housing shortage, short 220,000 affordable housing units for low-income renters with 1 in 4 New Jerseyansspending over 50% of their income on rent. At the same time, New Jersey is one of the slowest states in the nation to approve new housing projects, in some cases taking 5-7 years to approve new housing projects and start construction. 

The YIGBY Act builds on Senator Kim’s continued work to address the critical shortage of housing in New Jersey and across the country and create more affordable paths to owning a home for more Americans. Recently, Senator Kim also introduced the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act and the BUILD Housing Act (Better Use of Intergovernmental & Local Development for Housing Act), two bipartisan bills that would help modernize the federal housing review process to responsibly increase housing production, boost overall supply, and lower costs. Additionally, he cosponsored Senator Warner’s LIFT Homebuyers Act to create a program offering 20-year fixed-rate mortgages tailored for low- and moderate-income, first-generation homebuyers in order to cut monthly housing payments and boost homeownership accessibility. 

In July as a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senator Kim voted to advance a historic bipartisan housing agreement to spur building and lower costs for working Americans, the first of such legislation to advance in the Senate in nearly two decades. The legislative package included several bills and provisions co-led by Senator Kim, including but not limited to the BUILD Housing Act and the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act, as well as the Community Investment and Prosperity Act, alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Bernie Moreno (R-OH). This bill aims to increase private investment in affordable housing and other community development projects across the country and would unlock billions in capital for small businesses, financial education, and other economic development needs in communities that need it the most. 

Senator Kim serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. He is a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Learn more about Senator Kim’s work serving New Jersey on his website here.  

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