As New Jersey confronts one of the most severe housing shortages in the nation, we need to use every resource available to address the problem, yet there is significant opportunity sitting in our communities that is going untapped.
The shortage isn’t theoretical. New Jersey faces a deficit of more than 230,000 affordable homes, leaving families struggling to find housing they can afford. Young adults are delaying homeownership. Seniors are worried about aging in place. Essential workers increasingly find themselves priced out of the communities they serve. The promise of a stable, affordable home feels further out of reach every day.
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At the same time, faith-based organizations across the state are struggling to maintain properties that are often underutilized and increasingly costly to sustain. These same properties could help address one of our most pressing challenges while advancing the missions these organizations have carried out for generations.
The question is not whether these institutions can play a role in the housing crisis. The question is whether we will give them the tools and support necessary to succeed.
That question was front and center recently as faith leaders and community development professionals gathered for the final session of the Build NJ: Faith 2 Foundation Series, established and led by the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey. This program explored how to transform underutilized land into affordable housing, community facilities and neighborhood assets.
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Faith communities want to be part of the solution. They view affordable housing as a natural extension of their mission to serve their congregations. What they lack is not commitment, but technical expertise, access to capital, and clear pathways to move projects from concept to construction.
Fortunately, we do not have to guess whether faith-based housing can make a meaningful difference. We have already seen it work. Across the country, communities in California, Florida,
New York, and Washington have launched initiatives that help faith-based organizations convert underutilized land into affordable housing while preserving their role as trusted community anchors.
LISC’s work through the New York Land Opportunity Program and Bay Area Faith and Housing initiative has helped congregations move from vision to implementation, creating affordable housing opportunities while strengthening trusted community institutions. These efforts demonstrate that faith-based organizations can be powerful partners in addressing housing shortages when they have access to technical assistance, development expertise, and supportive public policies.
More help can come through Senate Bill S1836, known as the Yes In God’s Backyard, or YIGBY, legislation. It would make it significantly easier for religious and nonprofit organizations to convert underused property into affordable housing. The bill removes the need for a costly, time-consuming use variance for qualifying projects, and guarantees specific density and height allowances in exchange for reserving a portion of units as affordable. It does not force any house of worship to build anything. It simply clears a path for those who want to.
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In New Jersey, churches have played key roles in affordable housing development for decades. As the housing crisis deepens, more congregations are exploring how properties can help meet local housing needs, while continuing to serve as centers of worship, childcare, food assistance, education, and community life. They are asking practical questions about feasibility, financing, and community engagement so they can harness their unique assets and provide affordable housing where other organizations struggle. They are looking for ways to put mission into action.
LISC has helped convene partners to build momentum around this work. In addition to engaging HCDNNJ’s Faith2Foundation initiative, LISC has also engaged the New Jersey Faith Action Center led by our Lieutenant Governor, and the Faith-Based Alliance of New Jersey, an interdenominational coalition of houses of worship, congregations are gaining access to information, partnerships, and resources needed to explore housing development opportunities. We have also followed the steady drumbeat of Rev. Eric Dobson of the United Black Agenda along with our many other purpose-driven faith leaders who are merging their powerful stock of real estate and human capital.
Together, these efforts have generated significant interest from houses of worship seeking new ways to address housing needs while strengthening their long-term sustainability.
Jorge Cruz is Executive Director of LISC New Jersey, one of the largest community development financial institutions in the U.S., which has invested more than $478 million in New Jersey and contributed to the production of more than 5,684 affordable homes and 946,695 SF of community space.
