Yes In God’s Backyard
More than a Policy. Faith in Action.
Colorado's YIGBY (Yes In God's Backyard) initiative is making it easier for churches to build affordable housing on their own property. Rooted in restoration, stewardship, and collaboration, YIGBY encourages churches to use what they've been given to serve their neighbors.
YIGBY is a movement that invites churches to see their property not as something to protect, but to share.
As Colorado's population grows, so does the need for affordable housing. Many families, including teachers and essential workers, struggle to find homes within their means, leading to workforce shortages and increased pressure on local institutions. YIGBY represents a family who can stay in their community, a teacher who can live near their students, or a senior who no longer has to choose between housing and healthcare.
YIGBY is pushing to make it easier for faith communities to develop affordable housing. By fostering collaboration between faith communities and local governments, YIGBY aims to create inclusive, affordable neighborhoods for all Coloradans.
Building a Statewide Movement
The YIGBY movement in Colorado has brought many people to the table: legislators, faith communities, housing advocates, and affordable housing providers.
In 2024, Abundant Ground launched a faith leader sign-on letter to show legislators that churches across Colorado wanted to see this kind of legislation become reality. Senator Julie Gonzales agreed to sponsor the bill in the next legislative session. We then met with stakeholders from the Colorado House, Senate, the Governor’s Office, and leaders from across the state to shape a bill everyone could support.
During the 2025 legislative session, we formally introduced the YIGBY legislation. Together, we educated lawmakers, compiled testimonies, and attended countless meetings to negotiate amendments. We wrote articles, hosted webinars, and participated in radio and podcast interviews.
HB25-1169 passed in the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate Committee, but it ultimately died on the Colorado Senate floor.
YIGBY is more than just a policy. It is a movement that reshapes the way the faith community views their land, their neighbors, and their role in the affordable housing crisis.
What Began as a Movement Became a Law
That movement laid the groundwork for something even bigger.
The YIGBY legislation, now officially branded as The HOME Act, was given the prestigious first bill assignment: HB26-1001. We stood with Governor Polis at the first press conference of the legislative session and then watched the bill move swiftly from the House to the Senate, where it passed successfully.
Then, on March 25, 2026, Governor Polis invited our team to his office for the official bill signing. What began as a conversation three years ago is now law.
This is more than a legislative victory. It is a pathway for churches across Colorado to steward their land for the flourishing of their communities and to help address the affordable housing crisis in tangible ways.
