The pressing issue of homelessness has prompted a proactive response from religious institutions across California, leading to a movement known as “yes in God’s backyard” or “YIGBY.” This initiative aims to repurpose surplus land and underutilized parking lots owned by churches and nonprofits into affordable housing solutions.
Despite the enthusiasm for such projects, these institutions often encounter obstacles due to zoning restrictions that limit their land’s use for residential purposes. However, a recent California law, SB4, seeks to streamline this process and facilitate the development of affordable housing.
SB4 enables religious institutions and nonprofit colleges to rezone their properties for low-income housing purposes. By doing so, they can bypass many local permitting and environmental review requirements that often prolong the development timeline and inflate costs.
Rev. R. Barrett Van Buren, rector at the Episcopal Church of The Blessed Sacrament in Placentia, emphasized the moral imperative for these institutions to address homelessness and support those in need.
With California bearing a significant portion of the nation’s homeless population, the need for affordable housing solutions is paramount. Alexa Washburn, senior vice president of planning for National CORE, hailed SB4 as a potential catalyst for expediting the construction of thousands of housing units statewide.
The successful completion of projects like the Santa Angelina Senior Community, developed by National CORE at the Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament, highlights the transformative impact of SB4. While construction of the apartments took approximately 18 months, nearly six years of planning preceded the groundbreaking, underscoring the bureaucratic challenges previously faced by developers.
Rev. Michael Bell, director of housing and business development for the Episcopal Diocese of L.A., expressed optimism about SB4’s potential to inspire congregations and community members to envision new possibilities for affordable housing initiatives.
Despite the regulatory landscape in California, SB4 serves as a model for streamlining housing development processes, offering a beacon of hope for addressing the state’s housing crisis. As the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles aims to allocate 25% of church property across six counties for affordable housing, SB4 represents a significant step forward in realizing this ambitious goal.
With hopes high for SB4 to pave the way for future projects, stakeholders anticipate a brighter future for affordable housing initiatives across the state.