The City of St. Petersburg is rolling out a strategic partnership with faith-based organizations to combat its affordable housing crunch. According to FOX 13 News, the City Council recently greenlit changes to local ordinances which will allow St. Pete to work with religious institutions and developers to build affordable housing on church properties. The push comes on the back of a new state law that facilitates such collaboration, which St. Petersburg has quickly adopted.
Breaking barriers in Florida, St. Petersburg is the first city that has codified the "Yes in God's Backyard" (YIGBY) provision into its municipal code, a pivot aimed at ameliorating the ongoing housing shortage. "The City of St. Petersburg advocated for the 'Yes in God's Backyard' ordinance because we believe that it takes an innovative, comprehensive approach to tackle the affordable housing crisis," Mayor Kenneth T. Welch told St. Pete in a statement. With a letter in the air, Welch informed city leaders about the policy's benefits. The new ordinance will allow for partnerships on underused or unused land while ensuring a place of worship remains intact on the plots developed.
There are a few key stipulations embedded within the new ordinance to protect all parties involved. First United Methodist Church, despite an earlier claim by Mayor Welch, has clarified to FOX 13 News that they have no collaboration plans with the city. Still, the ordinance precludes houses of worship from being sold outright to developers and mandates that any housing built under this initiative must be open to all, irrespective of their religious beliefs, adhering to the Fair Housing Act.
In an effort to streamline the application of this initiative, St. Petersburg’s Office of Community Impact is establishing a program to provide one-on-one support to faith-based organizations interested in exploring opportunities for affordable housing. According to a statement obtained by St. Pete Catalyst, Council Chair Copley Gerdes highlights St. Petersburg's history of leadership on affordable housing, signaling yet another stride in the right direction with the adoption of the YIGBY ordinance. The program seeks to guide interested faith groups through the nitty-gritty of development planning, although navigating the building process for religious leaders can often present a maze.
St. Petersburg's proactive approach doesn't just hinge on the passage of the ordinance. The city has been at the forefront of the affordable housing drive in Florida, as it was the first to employ HB 1339's measures and allocate a significant portion of its American Rescue Plan funds to affordable housing. People who make up the beating heart of these communities are at the focal point of these solutions, as State Representative Lindsay Cross expressed pride in her participation to St. Pete. Interested congregations can reach out to Chief Impact Officer George Smith to start laying their part in the broader affordable housing puzzle.
