California is suffering from one of the country's most severe housing crises, fueled by a chronic shortage of places to live. The Golden State is now home to a third of the country's unhoused population as lower- and middle-income residents struggle to afford homes all over the state.
After repeatedly promising to tackle the crisis, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed more than 50 housing bills this month. The law that's gotten a lot of attention SB 4 will make it easier for non-profit colleges and universities and faith-based organizations to build affordable housing on land they already own. The bill, also known as "Yes in God's Backyard," would allow organizations to bypass certain environmental regulations and permitting rules to build homes in church parking lots and other underutilized or surplus land. UC Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation found there are more than 170,000 acres of land that could be put to use under SB 4.
As noted that religious organizations are especially well-positioned to provide housing for low-income and even unhoused community members. "We have this whole network of mission-driven organizations across the entire state, many of which would be quite eager and willing to minister to the most housing-burdened in their areas, and this is a way to provide that opportunity," the Bill said.
