TEXAS — As advocates work across Texas to address the affordable housing shortage, a national movement to put vacant faith-based properties to use is taking shape across the state.
Mike Chism, a former associate pastor at Impact @ Bethel, reflected on his family’s history at the church, which was formerly called Bethel Baptist Tabernacle.
“My grandfather was a charter member of the church. My parents got married in the church. My wife and I got married here,” Chism said. “After World War II, a lot of families from East Texas moved to the Dallas area to work.”
He says the migration spurred the growth of the church, but in recent years, the congregation has declined to less than 30 people.
“The last 20 years, we struggled with knowing that, at some point in time, we were going to have to make a decision on either merging, relocation or selling,” he said.
They made a tough decision to sell. The vacant church now sits on an empty lot that represents the end of a historic chapter and what advocates say is a new beginning for dozens of families. The turning point came after Bethel leaders reached out to longtime community partner Ferguson Road Initiative for assistance.
“I was very impressed that the leadership reached out to us first before just putting the property up for sale. That’s usually what happens. Everybody knows there is a critical housing shortage,” said Vikki Martin, FRI’s executive director, describing how financial constraints often hinder the development of lower income housing.
Martin connected Bethel leadership with a developer she says will turn the vacant property into 53 single family middle-income homes.
“We understand at Bethel this property will provide affordable housing for young professionals, police officers, teachers,” Chism said, adding it includes families that make up 80% of the area’s median income.
FRI and Chism are now aware of the YIGBY, or “Yes in God’s Backyard,” movement that aims to remove restrictive zoning laws to turn faith-based properties into affordable homes. Texas lacks nearly 670,000 affordable housing units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Efforts to pass YIGBY legislation failed in 2025, with advocates vowing to revisit it during the next legislative session in 2027, with a goal of creating more middle and low-income housing.
Despite the gridlock, Dallas advocates say they’re continuing to connect churches with developers.
“We’re very excited about what is going to happen at Bethel and what it’s going to bring into our community,” Martin said.
Chism says church members are counting their blessings.
“What happened with our efforts with Ferguson Road Initiative was a God thing. It just made sense for us to try to leave something that would be a legacy that would continue on in the community,” Chism said.
Bethel is now merged with Calvary First Baptist Church in Mesquite. Developers plan to break ground on the new homes at the old property next spring.