Houston is moving forward with a new affordable housing project that will be built on land owned by Trinity East United Methodist Church in the city’s Third Ward. The development, called Trinity East Village Senior Apartments, will consist of 90 one-bedroom units for seniors aged 62 and older. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and is expected to be completed by October 2027, according to documents filed with the state.
The NHP Foundation and Trinity East Village CDC, a local community development corporation, are leading the project. The estimated construction cost is $33 million, which will be funded primarily through low income housing tax credits. The City of Houston plans to provide $4 million in soft financing, while the Houston Housing Authority intends to contribute an additional $2 million.
This initiative follows a trend known as Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY), where developers partner with religious organizations—some of the country’s largest landowners—to build affordable housing on church-owned property. In California, legislation passed two years ago has made it easier for such developments by streamlining approvals for projects on land owned by religious groups and nonprofit colleges. This law opened up approximately 171,000 acres for potential development.
In Texas, similar proposals have been introduced but have not advanced in the legislature. Critics such as The Real Estate Council have argued that YIGBY projects should include requirements for affordable units, which some bills lacked.
Trinity East Village is intended mainly for residents relocating from Cuney Homes, Houston’s oldest public housing complex built in the 1930s. Two-thirds of the new apartments will be reserved for these individuals as Cuney Homes undergoes redevelopment by the Houston Housing Authority. Earlier this year, residents were informed they would need to move out.
Elsewhere in Texas, other faith-based affordable housing initiatives are underway. In South Dallas, an affordable housing project is being constructed at a former church site. In Austin, a congregation is developing a mixed-use project anchored by a new church building.
