Change to Florida law makes it easier for churches to build affordable housing

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

At the North Shore Alliance Church in North Fort Myers, the woods behind the church have become a home for the homeless.

“We prayed about it, and we said, 'Instead of chasing them out — let's give them some place to live,’” the Rev. Jeff Moyer said.

Moyer is the associate pastor of the church.

When he started looking into solutions, he discovered the problem was worse than he realized. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Lee County – specifically women and children – has become a major concern.

"That really touched our hearts, and we said, 'Let's build something where we can get these people off the street. Out of their cars, into homes. And give them the services they need,’” Moyer said.

Out of that, Hope Village was born.

Over the past few years, the church has worked on plans to transform the back of its property into a low-income housing community.

Last year, just as they were ready to apply for rezoning, a major change to state law went into effect.

The new policy, known as "Yes in God’s Backyard," now allows governments to approve affordable housing on land owned by religious institutions, regardless of how the land is zoned.

That means fewer requirements and a quicker and cheaper process for churches.

“It helps to remove a lot of those barriers and just focus on building houses for people, low-income housing for people,” Moyer said.

"They're looking at not just housing. But they're looking at a campus that will provide supportive services as well,” Michael Overway said.

Overway is the executive director of the Southwest Florida Coalition to End Homelessness, which plans to partner with the church once the community is developed.

He's encouraged by the new state law and said affordable housing is a problem the government alone cannot solve.

"As communities, we need to take a step back and realize that there's more to it than just putting up wood structures and calling them homes," Overway said. “There's a lot more to it."

Under the new policy, cities and counties still have the final say in approving projects.

But North Shore Alliance is optimistic. The church plans to apply for grants this spring, hopes to break ground this fall, and have people move in as early as next year.

"We're giving them a hand up,” Moyer said. “We're giving them hope that they can move on."

The church already has programs like the Blessing Closet, which gives free clothes and food to people in need.

Hope Village would help grow its ministry in an even bigger way.

"That is our hope, that people will see our love for them is really God taking care of them," Moyer said.

A spokesperson for Lee County said they have not yet received any applications that would fall under the new state law.

How the county will apply the new policy, the spokesperson said, depends on each project and how it complies with local regulations and the county’s comprehensive plan.

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