The Yes in God's Backyard Act aims to increase affordable rental housing by supporting faith-based organizations, colleges, and universities, and local governments in developing housing on their properties. The bill establishes two main programs: a technical assistance program to help these organizations navigate affordable housing development, and a competitive grant program awarding funds to local and state governments that remove regulatory barriers to such housing projects. The bill prioritizes housing for low-income families (earning up to 60 percent of area median income), homeless individuals and veterans, people with disabilities, and other special needs populations, with preference given to projects in well-resourced neighborhoods. The legislation authorizes $25 million for technical assistance in fiscal year 2026, then $10 million annually through 2031, and $50 million per year in competitive grants from 2026 through 2031. The bill was introduced by Senators Warner, Blunt Rochester, Kim, and Alsobrooks in September 2025.
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