Yes in God's Backyard Act
Sponsored By: Representative Barragan
Introduced
Summary
This bill would help remove barriers and expand affordable rental housing on faith-based and higher-education properties. It would create a technical assistance program and competitive challenge grants to help faith-based organizations, colleges, and local governments convert or preserve property for affordable rental housing while prioritizing vulnerable populations and access to opportunity.
Show full summary
- Families and renters: Would focus on housing with rents at or below 30% of household income and prioritize units for families at or under 60% of area median income.
- People experiencing homelessness and veterans: Would fund affordable and non-congregate emergency housing and prioritize extremely low-income households and those at risk of homelessness.
- Faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments: Would receive guidance, outreach, and competitive grants or loans to remove local policy barriers and carry out production or preservation projects.
*The bill would authorize about $375 million in federal funding for FY2026–FY2031, increasing federal outlays by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Defines affordable rent and households
If enacted, the bill would define "affordable rental housing" as rent no more than 30% of a covered household's income. A "covered household" would be a household with income at or below 100% of area median income as set by the Secretary. The subtitle also adopts existing legal definitions for "homeless," "extremely low‑income," faith‑based groups, and institutions of higher education. These definitions would take effect upon enactment and guide program targeting.
Grants for faith and campus housing
If enacted, the bill would create a competitive Challenge Grant program funded at $50 million each year for FY2026 through FY2031. States, local governments, and multi-jurisdiction planning groups would apply. Grants would pay to remove local zoning and procedural barriers, provide outreach and technical help, and make loans or grants to convert or preserve faith- or college-owned property as affordable rental housing. Applicants must publish a proposed plan, take public comments, and address those comments. The Secretary could use up to 10% for administration and would prefer projects serving families under 60% AMI, extremely low-income households, people who are homeless or veterans, people with disabilities, and intergenerational families.
Technical help for faith and college housing
If enacted, the bill would fund a HUD technical assistance program to help faith groups, colleges, and local governments convert or preserve property for affordable rental housing. The program would get $25 million in FY2026 and $10 million each year for FY2027 through FY2031. It would publish guidance on converting excess property, targeting housing to households at or below 60% AMI and other priority groups, federal funding options, resident services, and best development practices. HUD would consult with the Partnership Center and other federal agencies and make resources public.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Barragan
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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