Religious institutions and nonprofit colleges in California will be allowed to turn their parking lots and other properties into low-income housing under a new law aimed at combating the ongoing homeless crisis.
The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 11, rezones land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, and synagogues, to allow for affordable housing. Starting in 2024, they can bypass most local permitting and environmental review rules that can be costly and lengthy. The law is set to sunset in 2036.
California is home to nearly a third of all homeless people in the U.S. The crisis has sparked a movement among religious institutions, dubbed “yes in God’s backyard,” or “YIGBY,” in cities across the state, with a number of projects already in the works….
When will this go from voluntary to enforced compliance?
My thoughts exactly. The homeless crises is the result of poor governmental policies esp. here in California. So now gruesome Newsom wants churches to bail him out? Given his strong aversion to things many things Catholic, I foresee some strong-arm machinations down the road.
Sorry, Gavin, but we really need to keep our parking lots as they are. We’ll need them next time you shut our churches down.
I mean… go ahead, but crime’s gonna go way up. I’ve spoken with city councillors on this subject- the reason why homelessness is a problem is because of drug use, criminality, and mental illness. The ones who are down on their luck will rise up and get out of their squalor. The mentally ill drug abusers need to be put very, VERY far away from our children.
And on that note: if a crime can be traced to a “resident” of the parking lot, isn’t the land-owner potentially libel? Any lawyer out there want to respond?
Safety should come first for your parishioners and neighbors, and always to our veterans who live on the street. I do not see it safe to house the unvetted who have illegally crossed into this country without knowing where they are from or their background. That is not safe for anyone. Look at what just happened in Israel; and they have promised to punish the US also. Please don’t be foolish in how you go about thinking you are doing something charitable.Protect the children, especially.
We have a parking lot so people can park. There are plenty of unused areas where housing could be put, especially temporary like tents. But there are problems with this too.
I am Chaplain for our Fire Department. When the firefighters go to temporary shelters for the homeless they must take the police with them. There are drug users and dealers and violent people there. Putting such housing near any neighborhood is going to endanger the adults and children in that area. Crime and violence will rise.
The solution is establishing safe, legal housing and jobs. Those who cannot or will not comply should be treated for their problems, not given more free stuff and encouraged to continue with crime and violence.
Of course it would work in Episcopal church parking lots. Who goes there anymore.
Episcopalians have hardly anyone coming to their services, so putting homeless camps in Episcopalian parking lots is a good use of the space since the lots won’t be filled with cars.
“Take Paradise – Put up a Parking Lot.”