Simi Valley’s Church-Site Housing Project Offers Hope and Solutions
The Korean Baptist Church of Simi Valley has offered its land as part of a growing movement known as “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) — a faith-based alternative to the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) mindset. This initiative empowers religious institutions to use their land to meet urgent social needs, such as housing, in alignment with their values of service and compassion.
The approved development will transform a portion of the church’s property into much-needed housing. With rents rising and affordable housing increasingly scarce across Ventura County, projects like this provide a vital lifeline to those struggling to find a place to call home.
California faces a well-documented shortage of affordable housing. According to recent estimates, Ventura County alone needs tens of thousands of additional units to meet current demand. While the 26-unit complex might seem small on the surface, it represents a scalable, replicable model of how local governments, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits can come together to make a real impact.
What makes this project especially notable is its community-centered foundation. Rather than facing opposition, it received overwhelming support; a sign that public attitudes toward affordable housing are shifting when the benefits are made clear.
“My big fear is that with development we lose our churches... I’m grateful that this actually supports their existence and what they want and allows them to thrive as a congregation.”
The Korean Baptist Church in Simi Valley will sell a portion of its property to be developed into a three-story townhome complex.
Photo: Juan Carlo/The Star