Richmond, Va.— Both housing advocates and faith communities are strong supporters of Faith in Housing legislation that will make it easier for congregations to build affordable housing on their property. 

“The call to care for our neighbors is not abstract. It means making sure people have a place to live. Faith in Housing gives congregations a real way to answer that call — to turn our land into homes. This is a practical tool to help deliver on the Governor’s affordability agenda at a time when Virginia needs hundreds of thousands of homes. We’re asking her to sign the bill and ensure it is strong enough to be fully used by congregations across the Commonwealth.”  
– Reverend Dr. Michael Lynn Sessoms, D. Min, Pastor at Little Union Baptist Church in Dumfries and VOICE Co-Chair 

Clergy and faith leaders representing many religious traditions will gather virtually on Wednesday, April 1 from 12-12:30 p.m. for a prayer rally on the topic. Register HERE for the virtual prayer rally to learn more about this legislation and hear faith leaders share why they support it. 
 
The Faith in Housing bills, SB 388 and HB 1279, passed with bipartisan support in the General Assembly. This legislation will allow congregations (and other nonprofits exempt from property taxes) to build multifamily affordable housing on their land. Creating this norm on a state level will help cut red tape, expand housing supply, and support congregational missions, while creating more housing opportunities for Virginians. 
 
Through the outreach efforts of The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) and Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), more than 145 clergy and faith leaders from across Virginia have signed a letter to Governor Spanberger, and additional signatures continue to be submitted. This letter asks her to sign the bill and to include two technical amendments. These amendments do not change the intent of the bill; they clarify the language to ensure it will work as intended. These amendments would:  

• Clarify that congregations truly can build housing by-right, without a rezoning process, while still allowing environmental, historic, and archaeological reviews 

• Clarify that congregations that submit their applications before the bill’s sunset date have vested rights to build their project 

 
HOUSING FACTS  

Families in Virginia are struggling to find homes they can afford. Teachers, service workers, seniors, and young families are increasingly pushed into housing that’s farther from the communities where they work, worship, and raise their children. The statistics are staggering: 

• A 2025 poll found that 73% of Virginians lack access to affordable housing 

• 42% of renters in Virginia pay more than 30% of their income on rent 

• The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development estimates that 300,000 additional housing units are needed to alleviate the cost burden for renters 

VICPP and VOICE have been working on these issues with faith communities, coalition partners, and people of goodwill for close to a decade. Our faith traditions teach that shelter is a basic human need, and that communities flourish when everyone has a place to belong. These bills offer a solution that benefits the entire community.  
 
MEDIA CONTACTS 
Sheila Herlihy Hennessee, Director of Faith Organizing, VICPP 
sheila@virginiainterfaithcenter.org 

Roberta Oster, Director of Communications, VICPP 
roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org 

Jessica Sarriot, Co-Lead Organizer, VOICE 
jsarriot@voice-va.org 

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The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) advocates for economic, racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices through education, prayer, and action. VICPP is a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition of more than 750 faith communities working toward a more just society. 
 

Virginians Organized for Interfaith and Community Engagement (VOICE) is a network of over 48 faith and community organizations in Virginia that brings people together across lines that often divide us so we can build the power needed to make meaningful change across the Commonwealth.