Bill > S2720

This bill, called the "Yes in God's Backyard Act", establishes a comprehensive program to increase affordable rental housing by providing technical assistance and challenge grants to faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments. The bill creates two main initiatives: a technical assistance program and a competitive challenge grant program. The technical assistance program, funded at $25 million for fiscal year 2026 and $10 million annually through 2031, will help organizations understand how to develop and preserve affordable housing on their properties, focusing on housing for low-income households, homeless individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and other special needs populations. The challenge grant program, funded at $50 million annually from 2026 to 2031, will provide competitive grants to local governments and other eligible entities that have policies designed to remove barriers to affordable housing development. Grant recipients will be preferred if they propose to create housing for families with incomes below 60% of area median income, extremely low-income families, homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and other specified groups. The bill defines key terms like "affordable rental housing" (rent not exceeding 30% of household income) and aims to increase housing opportunities in well-resourced areas by providing resources and incentives to faith-based and educational organizations.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2720/all-info