H.R. 7152: Yes in God's Backyard Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the **Yes in God's Backyard Act**, aims to support the development and preservation of affordable rental housing through technical assistance and grants specifically targeted at faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments. Here’s a breakdown of the key components and intentions of the bill:

Definition of Affordable Housing

The bill defines affordable rental housing as housing that costs no more than 30% of the household income for families within a specific income bracket (referred to as covered households, generally those earning at or below 100% of the area median income).

Technical Assistance Program

The Secretary will establish a program to provide technical assistance to help eligible entities, such as faith-based organizations and educational institutions, to:

Understand how to develop excess property into affordable rental housing.
Preserve existing affordable rental housing.
Address various housing needs including those for extremely low-income families and vulnerable populations.

Resources Provided

The assistance will include:

Information on best practices for housing development.
Guidance on removing barriers to producing affordable housing.
Resources for federal assistance programs related to rental housing.

Grant Programs

The bill also establishes a Challenge Grant program to financially support eligible grantees (like local governments and planning organizations) that engage in policies to enhance affordable housing. This program is competitive and requires applicants to:

Demonstrate existing policies aimed at reducing barriers to affordable housing.
Solicit public feedback on their proposed plan for the use of grant funds.

Priorities for Grant Funding

In awarding grants, priority will be given to projects that support:

Housing for families earning below 60% of area median income.
Accessible housing for individuals with disabilities.
Support for populations at risk of homelessness, including veterans.

Funding Authorization

The bill proposes significant funding over several years:

$25 million for fiscal year 2026.
$10 million annually from 2027 to 2031 for technical assistance.
$50 million each year from 2026 to 2031 specifically for the Challenge Grants, with a limitation on administrative costs.

Consultation and Dissemination

The Secretary will consult with relevant federal agencies to develop the technical assistance resources, which will be made publicly available.

Reporting and Evaluation

Grantees will be required to report on their activities and provide data necessary for evaluating the effectiveness of the funds and program implementations.