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Up for Growth Action Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Faith in Housing Act to Address the Nation’s Housing Shortfall
Up for Growth Action applauds the introduction of the bipartisan Faith in Housing Act (FIHA), a vital legislative effort aimed at tackling the nation’s urgent housing supply and affordability crisis. This important bill marks a significant step toward restoring balance to the country’s housing ecosystem and expanding opportunities for Americans to access and afford homes. The legislation is especially timely given the ongoing housing supply and demand gap, with Up for Growth’s forthcoming 2025 report showing a 3.78 million home shortfall in 2023.
We sincerely thank and congratulate Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-52) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) for their bipartisan leadership in championing this important legislation.
The Faith in Housing Act enables faith-based institutions to develop affordable housing on their land, helping to meet community housing needs and the financial challenges faced by congregations. To ensure lasting community benefits, properties must remain affordable for at least 30 years and comply with health and safety standards. The legislation also keeps local authorities’ power to enforce building codes and address site-specific hazards. By providing a clear framework to expand affordable housing, the FIHA offers a constructive federal role in unlocking the potential of faith-owned land.
“The Faith in Housing Act is a practical step to make affordable housing an as-of-right use on faith-owned land,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth and Up for Growth Action. “By eliminating barriers that stand in the way of congregations living out their mission, this bill enables faith institutions to deliver safe, affordable homes and strengthen the communities they serve.”
“In San Diego and across the country, too many families are priced out of their neighborhoods due to the skyrocketing cost of housing. Religious institutions often seek to provide affordable housing to address gaps in their communities, but encounter roadblocks when local rules prohibit them from building housing on the land they own. If we want to put a dent in our country’s housing shortage, we’ve got to get creative and take advantage of our partners who already have footholds in our communities,” said Congressman Peters.
“Government red tape should never stand in the way of faith-based organizations working to make a difference in their communities,” said Congressman Edwards. “Our nation is facing a growing housing crisis, and if local religious organizations are ready and able to provide a roof over people’s heads, we should be doing everything we can to support their mission.”
The FIHA builds on the growing momentum in Congress to address the housing shortage, along with the landmark ROAD to Housing Act and the inclusion of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Together, these proposals reflect growing bipartisan support to remove barriers and give communities the tools to meet urgent housing needs.
The current housing crisis has caused significant hardship for working families, with a large portion of income going toward rent, and homeownership increasingly feeling out of reach. The Faith in Housing Act provides a crucial solution to this decades-long problem by increasing the availability of affordable homes. Up for Growth Action strongly hopes that leaders from both parties will continue to recognize the urgent need for supply-focused solutions and work together to pass this essential legislation, giving families safe, stable, and affordable places to call home.
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About Up for Growth Action: Up for Growth Action® is a 501(c)(4) federal legislative advocacy organization committed to fostering accessible growth through the removal of systemic barriers to housing development. Affiliated with Up for Growth®, a 501(c)(3) organization, it engages in research and advocacy to achieve housing equity and meet the nationwide need for more homes.