SB388/HB1279 Fact Sheet One Pager

FACT SHEET

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

1716 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23223

804-643-2474 • www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Yes in God’s Backyard (Faith and Housing)

SB 388 / HB 1279

Patron: Sens. Jeremy McPike & Jennifer Carroll Foy

Del. Josh Cole

Problem: There is a shortage of affordable homes in Virginia, both for rental and purchase. While needs are numerically concentrated in urban areas, the high cost of housing affects families in every part of Virginia.

At the same time, many faith communities understand that caring for neighbors is a part of their mission. Congregations own land in localities all over Virginia and are interested in supporting community members, and some are interested in developing affordable housing on their land. However, the process is made unnecessarily difficult because of the uncertainty and high cost of rezoning.

Background: There are already more than a dozen congregations in Virginia that have developed affordable housing on their property. The process usually takes between 7 and 20 years, and a significant part of that time is spent applying for Special Use Permits or zoning changes, along with convincing nearby residents that the development is good for the community. Communities have already seen the benefits of affordable housing built on faith land. Allowing other congregations to live their mission would benefit all Virginians.

Policy Solution: The Faith in Housing bill would streamline the permitting process for property tax-exempt nonprofits (most of which are faith communities) to build affordable multi-family housing on land they already own. In response to an exclusionary attitude of “not in my backyard” (NIMBY), this policy can be thought of as a “Yes in God’s backyard” (YIGBY) approach.

Faith communities and other property tax exempt nonprofits would have an administrative approval process for projects where at least 60% of the units are affordable housing. Height and density bonuses are based on the surrounding community. In addition, the new projects would become taxable, supporting local services.

Both HB 1279 and SB 388 passed their respective chambers with bipartisan support. However, the amendments to SB 388 are better for Virginia communities than the amendments to HB 1279.

Developing affordable housing allows congregations to provide resources to community members who are struggling, while putting faith into action.

Additional guardrails in SB 388

• Water and Sewer requirements

o Projects only qualify for administrative approval where water and sewer already exist within 500 ft of the property line.

• Environmental and historic reviews

o Projects must comply with local, state, and federal siting requirements, including environmental reviews in land-use law.

• Historic districts

o In historic districts, height is capped at 60 feet, even when there is a taller building nearby (with shorter buildings, height is capped at 45 feet).

o Localities retain the ability to preserve historic and archeological resources.

COMMONWEALTH HOUSING COALITION

For more information contact:

Sheila Herlihy Hennessey

sheila@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic, racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices through education, prayer, and action.