California lawmaker wants to make it easier for churches and colleges to build affordable housing

Two years after a state law went into effect allowing churches and other faith-based institutions, along with independent institutions of higher education, to build affordable housing units on their properties, a Southern California lawmaker wants to do the same at the federal level.

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-San Pedro, is a co-author of the Yes in God’s Backyard Act, which would make it easier for qualifying religious and higher education institutions to build affordable housing while incentivizing...