City of St. Petersburg leaders want to help religious organizations transform underutilized land into affordable housing. The municipality has officially launched the Yes in God\u2019s Backyard program.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In December 2025, the City became the first local government in the state<\/a> to adopt the Yes in God\u2019s Backyard ordinance. The provision, which is in relation to Senate Bill 1730, gives Florida municipalities the ability to authorize affordable housing on property owned by a religious institution that contains, or is contiguous to, a house of worship.\u00a0<\/p>\n The City\u2019s Office of Community Impact will oversee the program in partnership with the Florida Housing Coalition<\/a>. According to the organization\u2019s website, the nonprofit provides \u201cguidance, knowledge, tools and support\u201d to advance affordable housing solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n An information session will be held July 28 at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg\u2019s Center for Health Equity, at 2333 34th Street S., at 10 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe know for a fact that many of our houses of worship have property that could be developed for affordable housing,\u201d the City\u2019s faith and community justice liaison Rev. Kenny Irby told the Catalyst. \u201cThe legislation now offers some support. The best way to describe it is to be able to fast-track some of the permitting obligations and needs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Through the Yes in God\u2019s Backyard program, the Office of Community Impact and the Florida Housing Coalition will provide technical assistance to congregations. The organizations will help assess site feasibility, navigate funding options and provide other support services.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThose faith-based entities still need to understand the nuances and the inner workings of property development, architecture and all those kinds of things that most faith-based organizations are not experts at,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe greater good is a clear reality.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Religious institutions could also create affordable residential developments for veterans or young people who have aged-out of foster care, Irby added.\u00a0<\/p>\n Prior to the approval of the Yes in God\u2019s Backyard ordinance, a St. Petersburg religious organization began to develop an affordable housing project on church property.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2025, the Pinellas County Housing Authority and Palm Lake Christian Church, in partnership with Newstar Development, LLC, began construction on the Palm Lake Urban Sanctuary (PLUS) project<\/a> in the Disston Heights neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n