Churches' YIGBY Bill for Affordable Housing

0:00Churches in Connecticut are pushing a new bill called House Bill 5396, or Y-I-G-B-Y-S in God's backyard to speed up building. Affordable housing on their own land. The idea helps tackle the state's housing crunch, where places like Granby only have 5% affordable units and long wait lists for seniors. Take Reverend Ellis Miller at Granby Congregational Church. He's eyeing six acres right behind the building, close to stores, eateries, and a bus line to create homes for folks in need. The bill would allow summary review for projects with at least 30% affordable units, giving towns 90 days to approve if zoning rules. Are met no endless hearings. Clergy across the state are on board from West Harford's Westminster Presbyterian, exploring rentals to offset budget woes, to groups in New Haven, and Harford aiding the homeless. They say faith calls them to act, but slow zoning stalls, everything, sometimes taking 6 to 8 years. Meanwhile, the bill passed the Planning and Development Committee 13 to 8, and now heads to the full House and Senate.

1:06It's inspired by successes in California, where Y-I-G-B projects for seniors and vets are already done, though some states balked over local control. Towns worry about losing, say, on traffic, sewers, and safety, but supporters argue it's a smart tool amid rising homelessness of 45%. Last year, and won't bypass basic rules. If it lands on the governor's desk, it could turn church fields into real community lifelines. I'm Cory with the story. That's your Canada News today update. AI-powered, and always on.