Why It Matters
Connecticut faces a deepening affordable housing shortage, and a growing coalition of religious leaders across the state believes the answer may already exist — on their own property. The “YIGBY” movement, short for “Yes in God’s Backyard,” is gaining momentum in Connecticut as faith communities offer their land as a solution to a crisis that has driven up costs and contributed to rising homelessness statewide.
For towns like Granby, where only 5% of the housing stock is considered affordable, the stakes are high. State law sets a 10% affordability threshold, and many Connecticut municipalities remain well short of that benchmark.
What Happened
The Rev. Ellis Miller of Granby Congregational Church is among the religious leaders urging the Connecticut legislature to pass House Bill 5396, legislation that would streamline the approval process for affordable housing development on land owned by religious organizations.
Miller testified before lawmakers on March 4, pointing to six acres of flat, undeveloped land behind the church on Salmon Brook Street in Granby — property located just one block from the town center, near a grocery store, restaurants, and a commuter bus line.
“We have the land, we have the heart, we need a simple process,” Miller told lawmakers.
The church is still in the early stages of exploring what development might look like on the property. Miller has not yet determined the number or style of housing units that could be built, saying those details will depend on working with an architect or developer.
House Bill 5396 was raised and passed by the legislature’s Planning and Development Committee and now awaits consideration by the full House and Senate.
By the Numbers
- 5% — the share of Granby’s housing stock currently classified as affordable
- 10% — the affordability threshold set under Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing law
- 2 — senior affordable housing complexes in Granby, both with extensive wait lists
- 6 acres — the undeveloped land behind Granby Congregational Church being considered for housing
- March 4 — the date Rev. Miller testified before Connecticut lawmakers in support of the YIGBY bill
Zoom Out
The YIGBY concept is part of a broader national conversation about unlocking underutilized land — particularly land held by institutions — to address local housing shortages. Similar efforts have emerged in other states where religious organizations hold large parcels of property in established neighborhoods close to transit and services.
Connecticut has already taken steps to address its housing shortage. A comprehensive housing bill passed last year during a special legislative session introduced new requirements for town-level housing growth plans, adjusted minimum off-street parking requirements, expanded fair rent commissions, and created incentives for municipalities to permit more housing development.
Despite those efforts, advocates and religious leaders argue that the state’s affordability gap — particularly for lower-income residents — has not been sufficiently addressed. Connecticut’s Finance Committee has also approved a nearly $900 million tax relief package, reflecting the broader economic pressures residents are facing.
Some Connecticut residents have responded to the state’s high cost of living in unconventional ways. One Connecticut native recently traded a mortgage and utility bills for van life in the American Southwest, citing unaffordable housing costs as a driving factor.
What’s Next
House Bill 5396 must now be considered by the full Connecticut House and Senate before it can advance to the governor. Religious leaders like Rev. Miller are expected to continue advocating for the measure as the legislative session proceeds.
For Granby Congregational Church, the next practical step would be engaging an architect or developer to assess what type and quantity of housing could realistically be built on the six-acre parcel. The church has not yet committed to a specific development plan, and any construction would be contingent on legislative approval and local permitting processes.
With affordable housing wait lists already stretching across the state, Connecticut lawmakers face mounting pressure to act before more residents are priced out of stable housing options.