YIGBY (Yes in God’s Backyard)

a creative approach to affordable housing, in partnership with Idaho’s faith communities

WHY “YES IN GOD’S BACKYARD”?

Have you ever heard the acronym “NIMBY”? It stands for “Not in my backyard”. It’s defined as the opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable in one's neighborhood.

Sometimes affordable housing carries with it a negative connotation. LEAP’s goal is to prove that affordable housing can and should be safe, beautiful, and dignifying. YIGBY is faith communities’ attempt to flip the script on what affordable housing can look like, the kind of impact it can have on a neighborhood, and who can be the key players in making a difference.

our Approach

In LEAP’s search for avenues to build or preserve affordable housing, we discovered that churches around the Treasure Valley hold over 180 acres of underutilized land. That’s more land than the Boise State campus.

We’re seeking to partner with faith communities throughout Idaho who have surplus underutilized land, and dreams of using it to serve their neighbors. We’ll take care of all the hard stuff—funding, designing, building, and renting or selling. All we need is a “Yes!”

Case Study: Taft Homes

LEAP’s first YIGBY project was in partnership with Collister United Methodist Church in Boise.

The church had been searching for a way to serve their community through the use of their surplus land, about 1/3 of an acre. By partnering with us, they were able to do so, without having to contribute any money or technical expertise.

In 2021, LEAP signed a 50-year land lease with Collister United for $1/year, and then took care of the rest. We built two units, each 4-bed, 2-bath, on land that had sat vacant & underutilized for the last 100 years. Those units now house two previously homeless families at affordable rents.

Because Collister United Methodist gave us space to do what we’re best at—building homes—they now can focus on what they’re best at—loving their neighbors.

Wondering How you can get involved?

If you’re pastor or faith leader, a member of a faith community, or know someone who is, there are a couple of ways you can partner with us:

LAND. We are looking for churches with underutilized plots of land that they would like to see used for affordable housing. Churches can donate, lease, or sell land to us. Let’s talk about what works best for your church’s mission! Reach out to us at info@leaphousing.org or give us a call at 208-391-2823.
MONTHLY DONATIONS. If your faith community doesn’t have underutilized land, you can still make an impact. Set up a monthly donation here.

Schedule a meeting with us to get involved!