Last year, Florida took an important step toward a new kind of solution for its affordable housing crisis, one that taps into an unexpected but significant partner: faith-based organizations. The State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1730, creating Florida’s new “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) law.

Preserving existing housing that is affordable to low-income households today is one of the most cost-effective ways to address California's housing crisis. A new senate bill would establish the Community Anti-Displacement and Preservation Program (CAPP), a new statewide program to acquire and preserve at-risk, currently unsubsidized affordable housing.

The Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians is a small California tribe, located in the rural outskirts of San Diego County. We spoke to the tribe's housing director to discuss plans for building housing on their reservation.