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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6957 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6957
To provide technical assistance and grants for faith-based
organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments
to increase the supply of affordable rental housing, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 7, 2026
Ms. Barragan (for herself and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide technical assistance and grants for faith-based
organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments
to increase the supply of affordable rental housing, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Yes in God's Backyard Act''.
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANTS FOR FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO AND INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.
Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act
(42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.), is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``Subtitle G--Technical Assistance and Grants for Faith-based
Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, and Local Governments
to Remove Barriers and to Increase the Supply of Affordable Rental
Housing
``SEC. 290. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) Affordable rental housing.--The term `affordable
rental housing' means housing available to the public charging
a monthly rent that is not more than 30 percent of household
income of a covered household.
``(2) At risk of homelessness.--The term `at risk of
homelessness' has the meaning given the term in section 401 of
the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360).
``(3) Covered household.--The term `covered household'
means a household with income that is at or below 100 percent
of area median income as defined by the Secretary.
``(4) Extremely low-income families.--The term `extremely
low-income families' has the meaning given the term in section
3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437a).
``(5) Faith-based organization.--The term `faith-based
organization'--
``(A) has the meaning given the term by the
Secretary; and
``(B) includes any organization assisted by the
Partnership Center.
``(6) Homeless.--The term `homeless' has the meaning given
the term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).
``(7) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
``(8) Partnership center.--The term `Partnership Center'
means the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
in the Office of the Secretary or any successor office.
``SEC. 291. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program to provide
technical assistance to assist faith-based organizations, institutions
of higher education, and local governments in order to remove barriers
to the production and preservation of affordable rental housing on
property owned by faith-based organizations and institutions of higher
education.
``(b) Contents.--The program established under subsection (a) shall
consist of resources related to--
``(1) understanding how excess property owned by faith-
based organizations and institutions of higher education can be
developed into affordable rental housing and how existing
affordable rental housing can be preserved;
``(2) the development and preservation of affordable rental
housing on property owned by faith-based organizations and
institutions of higher education, including--
``(A) housing for households at or below 60 percent
of area median income;
``(B) housing for individuals and families who are
homeless or at risk of homelessness, including
veterans;
``(C) accessible rental housing for individuals
with disabilities;
``(D) housing for intergenerational families under
section 203 of the LEGACY Act of 2003 (12 U.S.C. 1701q
note);
``(E) housing for other special needs populations
as determined by the Secretary; and
``(F) housing that would increase equitable access
to well-resourced areas of opportunity;
``(3) Federal assistance for affordable rental housing
production and preservation, including information on federally
assisted rental housing programs, and services for residents;
``(4) best practices in the housing development and
preservation processes, including selection of development,
preservation, and management partners, considerations regarding
land lease, ownership, or sale ensuring equitable access to
housing, and other considerations;
``(5) best practices for State and local governments to
remove barriers to and encourage the production of affordable
rental housing, especially in well-resourced areas of
opportunity, on property owned by faith-based organizations and
institutions of higher education; and
``(6) any other areas as determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Consultation.--In developing technical assistance and other
resources under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the
Partnership Center and other Federal agencies administering affordable
housing and related programs, including the Departments of Agriculture,
the Treasury, and Health and Human Services.
``(d) Dissemination.--The resources described in subsection (b)
shall be made publicly available.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
``(2) $10,000,000 each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
``SEC. 292. CHALLENGE GRANTS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO AND INCREASE
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING SUPPLY ON PROPERTY OWNED BY
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible grantee.--The term `eligible grantee'
means--
``(A) a unit of general local government;
``(B) a State;
``(C) a metropolitan planning organization; and
``(D) a multi-jurisdiction entity, as defined by
the Secretary.
``(2) State; unit of general local government.--The terms
`State' and `unit of general local government' have the
meanings given those terms in section 102 of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302).
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Challenge
Grant program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible
grantees that have policies in effect that are designed to remove
barriers to the production and preservation of affordable rental
housing on property owned by faith-based organizations and institutions
of higher education.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Other requirements.--In order to receive a grant
under this section, an applicant shall--
``(A) demonstrate that the applicant has policies
in effect designed to remove barriers to the production
or preservation of affordable housing on property owned
by faith-based organizations and institutions of higher
education, as determined by the Secretary;
``(B) make publicly available a proposed plan for
use of a grant under this section and solicit comments
on the plan; and
``(C) address the disposition of public comments
described in subparagraph (B) in a final plan submitted
to the Secretary as part of the grant application.
``(d) Preference.--In making awards under this section, the
Secretary shall give preference to applicants that propose to use the
grant to produce or preserve--
``(1) affordable rental housing for families with incomes
below 60 percent of area median income, as determined by the
Secretary in well-resourced areas of opportunity;
``(2) affordable rental housing for extremely low-income
families;
``(3) affordable rental housing or non-congregate emergency
housing for individuals and families who are homeless or at
risk of homelessness, including veterans;
``(4) affordable and accessible rental housing for
individuals with disabilities;
``(5) affordable rental housing for intergenerational
families under section 203 of the LEGACY Act of 2003 (12 U.S.C.
1701q note); or
``(6) affordable rental housing for other special needs
populations as designated by the Secretary.
``(e) Allowable Uses.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section shall use grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the
following activities pertaining to the removal of barriers to and
encouraging the production and preservation of affordable rental
housing on property owned by faith-based organizations and institutions
of higher education:
``(1) Assessing and removing local policy and procedural
barriers to and adopting best practices to encourage the
development of affordable rental housing under this section.
``(2) Outreach to and technical assistance for faith-based
organizations, institutions of higher education, and other
community partners to facilitate production and preservation of
affordable rental housing.
``(3) Making grants and loans to projects that produce or
preserve affordable rental housing under this section.
``(4) Such other activities that will further the purposes
of this subtitle, as determined by the Secretary.
``(f) Reporting and Data Collection.--A grantee under this section
shall submit such information as the Secretary may require in order to
monitor, assist, and evaluate the performance of the grantee and
program under this section.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2031.
``(2) Administrative costs.--Of the funds authorized to be
appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than 10 percent may
be used by the Secretary for administering the grant program
established under this section.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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