Affordable housing is rapidly climbing the list of top issues in cities and small towns across America. But in Texas, where housing prices have soared and working families are being priced out of the very communities they serve, lawmakers are under increasing pressure to act.
Mt. Zion is working with Capital A Housing, a local affordable housing developer, to build 80 apartments on land the church owns.
And they just might. A wave of new legislation is working its way through committees at the Texas State Capitol, aiming to cut red tape and give developers faster paths to build smaller, more affordable homes. These bills aren’t just about zoning and density—they’re also about faith, stewardship, and a different kind of land use strategy.
Because this time, churches are leading the charge.
Across Texas, church leaders from multiple denominations are asking lawmakers to clear the path for them to build homes—right on their own properties. They’re calling it a moral imperative. With sprawling parking lots, unused land, and a mission to serve their communities, many congregations are stepping up and saying: Yes, in God’s Backyard.
From NIMBY to YIGBY
For decades, housing developers have run into a wall known as “NIMBYism,” shorthand for Not In My Backyard. It describes a familiar scenario: neighbors opposing new development, especially smaller homes or apartment units that might change the character—or demographics—of a neighborhood.
But as Texas continues to experience an affordable housing crisis that’s impacting teachers, firefighters, nurses, and even young families, a new counter-movement is emerging. It’s called YIGBY—Yes, In God’s Backyard—and it’s gaining momentum.
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Rather than face years of rezoning battles, churches want a more direct path to turn part of their properties into housing. It could be a few duplexes on a quiet corner of the lot. Maybe a dozen modular units tucked behind the fellowship hall. Or in some cases, entire workforce housing campuses.
Housing as a Mission
This isn’t just about convenience or extra income. For many pastors, building affordable housing is part of a spiritual calling.
Take Pastor Lisa Bryant, whose congregation sits on nearly five acres of unused land outside Austin. “We preach every week about loving our neighbors and serving the poor,” she said in a recent town hall. “We have single mothers and seniors in our pews who can’t afford to live within 30 miles of our church. What good is land if it doesn’t serve people in need?”
Pastor Bryant’s church is working with a modular builder to create a plan for a small cluster of homes—one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for seniors, teachers, and low-income families. But without legislative support, her team is facing years of rezoning delays and legal expenses they can’t afford.
The Legislative Push
This year, several bills are under consideration in the Texas legislature that could change all of that. One proposed measure would allow religious institutions to bypass certain zoning restrictions when building affordable housing. Another bill would grant expedited permitting for developments under a certain square footage or density threshold, specifically for nonprofits and faith-based organizations.
Supporters argue that these bills would allow for quicker action on a pressing problem—and give local congregations the tools to help meet the housing needs of their communities. Opponents worry about neighborhood backlash, infrastructure strain, and the potential loss of community control over land use.
But housing advocates point out that the need is urgent. More than 50% of renters in Texas are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than a third of their income on housing. And that figure is growing.
Why Modular and Offsite Make Sense
One of the reasons churches are particularly drawn to modular construction is the speed and efficiency it offers. Unlike traditional construction methods, modular housing can be designed, permitted, and built offsite—often in weeks, not months. Once delivered, it can be installed on church land with minimal disruption to existing facilities.
In many cases, modular construction also allows for flexible design, ADA-compliant units, and energy-efficient features that align with both faith-based missions and environmental stewardship.
Churches partnering with modular builders are finding innovative ways to fund the projects as well—through grants, partnerships with nonprofit housing developers, or simply tapping into the congregation’s donation base with a clear and visible mission.
Local Impact, Scalable Vision
While Texas is grabbing headlines, this movement isn’t unique to the Lone Star State. Faith-based housing initiatives are popping up in California, Oregon, and even parts of the Midwest, where churches are trying to address homelessness, rural housing needs, and senior displacement. But in Texas, the potential scale is enormous.
There are over 27,000 religious congregations in the state. Even if a small fraction of them were able to build 4 to 10 units each, the result would be thousands of new homes—and not in distant developments or unaffordable high-rises, but right in the heart of local communities.
And perhaps more importantly, it sends a cultural message: that solving housing isn’t just a government issue, or a market issue, but a community-wide responsibility.
A Shift in What “Sacred Space” Means
As more churches step into this role, they’re rethinking the traditional definitions of sacred space. Sanctuary isn’t just a place to pray—it’s a place to live. It’s a place to find shelter, community, and support. And in the age of the housing crisis, sacred ground might just mean a front porch and a shared backyard.
As Texas lawmakers weigh the bills in front of them, they’re not just debating policy—they’re deciding whether to empower churches to do what many already believe is their divine mission.
Affordable housing in Texas may just find salvation in God’s backyard.
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Gary Fleisher, The Modcoach, writes about the modular and offsite construction industry at Modular Home Source.
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