Faith and Land: A New Way to Tackle Housing Gaps

The Hidden Rules That Lock Out Black Families

In towns across America, invisible barriers built into land-use policies have quietly enforced segregation for generations. While overt discrimination in housing—like redlining—is no longer legal, new rules have taken its place. Minimum lot sizes, strict zoning limits, and restrictions on multi-family housing all work together to make it harder for Black families to access neighborhoods with strong schools, safe streets, and economic opportunity.

In New Jersey, these policies have replaced the red lines of the past with something just as effective at shutting doors. The result? A staggering wealth gap: the average white family in the state holds nearly $300,000 more in wealth than the average Black family. This isn’t an accident—it’s the direct outcome of decades of policies that have systematically excluded Black families from homeownership, the primary way most Americans build generational wealth.

Faith Groups as a Path to Affordable Housing

A new bill, S1836, nicknamed the “Yes In God’s Backyard” law, offers a creative solution by tapping into the untapped potential of religious institutions. For generations, Black churches, synagogues, and mosques have been more than just places of worship—they’ve been lifelines, offering food, shelter, and support in communities of color.

Many of these institutions sit on valuable land—empty lots, underused parking spaces—that could become homes for seniors, working families, and others priced out of the market. But today, the path to building affordable housing on that land is littered with red tape.

S1836 doesn’t force any faith group to act. Instead, it removes the bureaucratic hurdles that make it nearly impossible for willing institutions to use their land for good. The current system is so convoluted that even motivated groups give up before breaking ground. That’s not just inefficiency—it’s a tool to concentrate power in the hands of a few, ensuring communities of color remain dependent on outside solutions.

A Chance for Self-Determination

If passed, this law would let religious groups take ownership of their own land and use it to serve their communities. No more luxury developments driving up prices. No more waiting for distant developers or policymakers to decide who gets to live where.

This is about more than housing—it’s about agency. For too long, Black families have had to wait for systems designed to keep them out to finally let them in. S1836 could be the first step in breaking that cycle.

The question isn’t whether we can afford to make these changes. It’s whether we can afford not to.