H.R. 6957

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6957 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.''.
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