Connecticut Lawmakers Propose YIGBY Bill to Address Housing Shortage Using Religious Land
Connecticut lawmakers are considering House Bill 5396, known as the YIGBY (Yes in God's Backyard) bill, which aims to utilize underused land owned by religious organizations for affordable housing projects. This initiative seeks to address the state's housing shortage by streamlining the approval process for such developments. Religious groups collectively own over 2.6 million acres across the U.S., much of which is underutilized. The bill proposes a 'summary review' process for qualifying projects, allowing them to bypass lengthy public hearings if they meet local zoning requirements. At least 30% of the units in these developments must be designated as affordable. 
