Yes in God's Backyard Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Helps faith-based organizations and colleges turn owned land into affordable rental housing. The bill would create a Technical Assistance Program and a Challenge Grant program to remove local barriers and support development and preservation of affordable rental housing for low-income and vulnerable households.
Show full summary
- Families and vulnerable renters: Prioritizes housing for households at or below 60 percent of area median income, extremely low-income families, people who are homeless or at risk including veterans, people with disabilities, and intergenerational housing.
- Faith-based organizations and institutions of higher education: Would provide guidance on converting excess property, preserving existing affordable units, and navigating federal housing programs through technical assistance and public resources.
- Local and regional governments: Could receive competitive Challenge Grants to assess and remove policy barriers, fund outreach, loans, or development activities. Challenge Grants are authorized at $50 million per year for FY2026–2031 and administrative costs are capped at 10 percent.
*Would authorize $25 million for technical assistance in FY2026 and $10 million per year for FY2027–2031, plus $50 million per year for challenge grants in FY2026–2031, totaling about $375 million in authorized appropriations.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to Convert Faith-Owned Property
This bill would create a competitive Challenge Grant program to help turn faith- and college-owned property into affordable rental housing. Eligible applicants would include local governments, States, metropolitan planning organizations, and multi-jurisdiction entities with policies to remove housing barriers. Grants could pay for policy reviews, outreach and technical help, loans and grants to projects, and other barrier-removal work. The Secretary would prioritize housing for people below 60% AMI in well-resourced areas, extremely low-income families, people who are homeless or at risk (including veterans), people with disabilities, and intergenerational families. Applicants must publish plans, solicit public comments, and address them. The bill would authorize $50 million per year for 2026–2031 and let the Secretary use up to 10% for program administration.
What 'Affordable Rental Housing' Means
This bill would define key terms used in the subtitle. 'Affordable rental housing' would mean monthly rent is no more than 30% of a covered household's income. A 'covered household' would mean income at or below 100% of area median income as defined by the Secretary. The bill would also adopt existing statutory meanings for terms like homeless, at risk of homelessness, extremely low-income families, faith-based organization, and institution of higher education.
Free Technical Help for Faith Properties
This bill would create a HUD Technical Assistance program to give public guidance and tools to faith-based groups, colleges, and local governments. If enacted, resources would show how to convert excess property to affordable rental housing and preserve existing units. Materials would address housing for people at or below 60% AMI, people who are homeless or at risk (including veterans), people with disabilities, and intergenerational housing. The Secretary would consult other agencies and make resources public. The bill would authorize $25 million for FY2026 and $10 million per year for 2027–2031.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 9/4/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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