Mary Waters is now serving on the Detroit City Council and has set an ambitious goal to preserve or produce 4,000 units of affordable housing during her upcoming tenure. In the weeks leading up to her inauguration, she outlined a bold vision to make Detroit the best place to raise a family—calling on the faith community to contribute 10% of the city’s 12,500-unit goal by activating their land for affordable housing development.

To support this initiative, Detroit Faith-Based Development was launched in February 2025 in partnership with Aevolve Green Solutions (AGS)—with offices in Detroit and Atlanta, GA—and Enterprise Community Partners. Together, they are working toward the goal of producing 1,250 units through faith-led development.

AGS is the first Black-owned mass manufacturing housing company in the United States, while Enterprise has pioneered faith-based housing engagement across the Southeast and Midwest. Their model provides comprehensive technical assistance and direct support to houses of worship, helping them gain access to experts, financing, and other critical resources.

After a year of engagement and training, participating congregations are equipped to make fully informed decisions about whether or not to pursue housing development. Building on this foundation, the Detroit Faith-Based Development Initiative expands access to technical support at every stage of the process, from idea to implementation.

“New affordable AEDU Smart Housing for the homeless will be built across the city, adding thousands of units,” Detroit Faith-Based Housing conveyed to Mayor Mike Duggan. “But for most people, navigating the process is nearly impossible.”

With the Trump administration expected to renew its “America First” approach, introducing new tax breaks and subsidies to boost domestic housing manufacturing, Detroit Faith-Based Housing has assembled a team dedicated solely to helping Detroiters find and access affordable housing.

As the housing crisis deepens, interest in faith-based development is spreading nationwide. How do “Yes in God’s Backyard” (YIGBY) zoning laws work? Where are they being introduced or implemented? And what might they mean for local communities and churches?

Although the church’s next phase of spiritual and community development began years ago, it can now benefit from expedited development processes through YIGBY legislation, like California’s SB 4, designed to accelerate affordable housing construction on faith-owned land.

What You Need to Know:
Detroit Faith-Based Housing is preparing an extensive housing package to help address Detroit’s long-standing housing crisis. The plan focuses on simplifying and speeding up construction for new and transitional housing, protecting tenants, keeping housing affordable, and bringing innovative housing manufacturing solutions directly into the city.