Faith, Shelter, and Justice: Why Churches, Mosques, and Temples Must Help Solve South Florida’s Housing

By James Carras

May 25, 2026

Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk neighborhood has a vision: to create a multigenerational, transformative community. Its recently completed Mount Hermon Apartments, a 104-unit affordable housing project for seniors, marks a significant milestone toward that goal.

South Florida is experiencing a housing crisis. More than half of renters are cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on rent. Many are one unexpected expense away from eviction or homelessness. This is not just an economic problem; it is a moral one.

It is time for our churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples to bring their full power and purpose to the affordable housing movement.

I write not only as a policy expert with decades of experience in housing and homelessness, but as a man of faith. As an Orthodox Christian, I believe deeply in the sacred call to offer shelter. Jesus himself experienced homelessness—born in a borrowed manger, buried in a borrowed tomb. He commanded: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

This call echoes across religious traditions. In Islam, housing is a right. Islamic law identifies shelter, food, clothing, healthcare, and education as obligations that society must provide. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Abraham rushes to offer hospitality to strangers, demonstrating that compassion is not just kindness; it is a form of justice.

Each of our faiths teaches:

• Hospitality as a sacred duty

• Communal responsibility for the vulnerable

• Justice and compassion as spiritual imperatives

• Personal sacrifice to uplift others

These are not abstract ideals. They are blueprints for action.

Nationally, “faith-based development,” the repurposing of religious land for affordable housing, is gaining traction. Often called “Yes in God’s Backyard” or YIGBY, this movement reflects the alignment of mission and opportunity. Policymakers are taking note. Last year, Senator Sherrod Brown introduced the Yes in God’s Backyard Act, which proposes cutting zoning red tape and offering technical assistance to make it easier for religious groups to develop affordable housing.

In South Florida, congregations are already turning sacred values into bricks and mortar:

• Broward County: Atlantic/Pacific Communities collaborated with Catholic Relief Services to develop Casa Sant'Angelo in Miramar, a senior affordable housing project catering to residents earning 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income. The project offers 113 one-

and two-bedroom units with LIHTC equity provided by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

• Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach 7th Day Baptist Church is building 101 affordable apartments while maintaining worship space. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach created 12 affordable units after people began sleeping on its property.

• Miami-Dade: Carrfour Supportive Housing has developed over 1,700 units, serving seniors, LGBTQ+ veterans, and others, often on or near land owned by churches and faith-based nonprofits.

Faith communities are uniquely positioned to lead. They hold land. They hold trust. And they hold a mission.

Across South Florida, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of underused or surplus properties owned by religious institutions. These sites can be transformed into affordable housing, supportive services, or mixed-use developments. Rather than selling their legacy, congregations can lease their land to mission-aligned developers, retaining ownership, generating income, and fulfilling their call to serve.

As one developer put it, “Your land is your legacy. Don’t sell.”

I’ve helped guide congregations through this journey, from assessing feasibility and identifying nonprofit partners to navigating zoning and funding. The road is challenging but holy. I also served as editor of the Orthodox Parish Guide on Homelessness, which helps faith communities turn compassion into action.

What is emerging in South Florida is a model for the nation: faith communities that view housing as a ministry, land as a sacred trust, and development as a form of discipleship. These projects don’t just build homes—they build community.

The path forward is clear:

1. Assess your property.

2. Engage your congregation.

3. Partner with experienced developers.

Counties across South Florida are ready to assist. Nonprofit and mission-aligned developers are seeking partnerships. What’s needed is for more congregations to say yes.

In a region crying out for shelter, faith must not remain confined within the walls of worship. It must rise, brick by brick, building by building, as a sanctuary for all. South Florida’s congregations are already showing the way. The question is not whether faith communities can help solve the housing crisis, but how many more will answer the call.

James Carras is an Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School and a policy expert based in Fort Lauderdale, advising affordable housing developers and government agencies. He was the Editor of the Orthodox Parish Guide on Homelessness.