Across religious traditions and denominations, a shared value persists: the importance of helping one’s neighbors. For Pastor Michael Jones of Village of Faith Ministries in Sandston, Virginia, that principle is not just a theological concept — it’s a call to action. In the face of rising housing insecurity, Jones is leading his congregation in a bold direction: transforming part of their church property into affordable housing.
Village of Faith Ministries recently joined a national wave of faith-based organizations repurposing their land to provide much-needed homes. For Pastor Jones, the decision reflects both spiritual and practical concerns. “We knew that, at some point in time, we would look to position ourselves to sell a portion of it, or all of it, to simply aid where our congregation is trying to go in the future,” he explained in an interview with Next City in January.
Plans are underway to develop a segment of the church’s 1.5-acre Southside property into a residential community with 192 apartments and 40 townhomes. This project is the result of a collaboration with homebuilding company D.R. Horton, which helped design a plan that would meet the church’s financial needs while keeping rent at an accessible level. “We know that housing is a need,” Jones said, underscoring the urgency of the project.
Pastor Jones envisions the new housing development as more than just a cluster of buildings. He sees it as an extension of the church’s mission — a place where people can find not only shelter but also community, connection, and support. “Our churches should not be vacant Monday through Saturday,” he emphasized. Beyond worship services, he wants the church to serve as a hub for local engagement, where residents can access essential services, interact with their neighbors, and even tend to a shared community garden on the property.
Village of Faith Ministries is part of a growing faith-based housing movement that aims to combat the affordable housing crisis by turning underutilized church land into residential space. Across the country, congregations are constructing tiny home villages for the unhoused, providing zero-interest loans to low-income families, and offering rental assistance to vulnerable community members. This growing initiative is rooted in the belief that houses of worship should be active agents of change, especially in communities burdened by housing scarcity.
To counter the stigma often attached to new housing developments — especially the resistance encapsulated by the phrase “not in my backyard” — faith leaders have launched a powerful response: the “Yes, In God’s Backyard” movement. This national effort encourages churches and religious organizations to embrace development as a moral responsibility and to view their land as a resource for public good.
This movement is gaining legislative traction. In California, lawmakers passed a bill titled “Yes, In God’s Backyard,” allowing religious institutions to develop housing on their properties without being restricted by local zoning laws. Inspired by this progress, Virginia’s state senate began considering similar legislation in early 2025. The proposed bill, called the “Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act,” was still under review at the time of publication.
Advocates say this legislation could open new pathways for churches looking to address housing insecurity. “[We proudly support the] ‘Faith in Housing for the Commonwealth Act’ to build more affordable housing where it is most needed by allowing churches to build affordable housing on their land through a streamlined process,” the Commonwealth Housing Coalition said in a public statement. “Today in Virginia, too many of our neighbors and community members struggle to afford a place to call home,” the statement continued. “We have an opportunity to help more faith-based institutions help solve this problem by allowing them to build homes on their land.”
For Pastor Jones, that opportunity is already becoming reality. His congregation is preparing to offer 232 families more than just housing — they’re offering hope, community, and a future rooted in faith and service.
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