From “City Beautiful”. ( YouTube / Nebula )

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Faith-based organizations often have more land than they need. They also may want to build housing on that land to further their mission. But they aren’t always allowed to. But if they could build housing, it could help end the housing crisis.

Donate to St. John’s (if you like): https://www.moreformadison.org

Resources on this topic:

About the amount of church-owned land:

https://ltams.org/what-to-know-when-handling-transactions-involving-church-owned-property/

YIGBY article in Christianity Today:

100,000 Reuses for the Church to Find

Terner Center report on California’s YIGBY law:

https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Faith-Based-Housing-Updated-October-2023.pdf

Florida’s YIGBY law:

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2025/08/04/yes-in-gods-back-yard-law-churches-could-address-housing-crunch/85411086007/

Cities and YIGBY:

Can states, and a little bit of faith, convert church land into affordable housing?

Produced by Dave Amos and the fine folks at Nebula Studios.
Written by Dave Amos.
Select images and video from Getty Images.
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