Researchers from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy released a report on March 13 examining affordable housing developments built on religious properties in the United States between 2015 and 2025. The study, led by Dr. Nadia Mian, senior program director at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement and lecturer at the Bloustein School, documents how churches, synagogues, mosques, and other religious institutions have converted their land into affordable housing and community spaces.
The topic is significant as it highlights new approaches to addressing housing needs while preserving community ties. The report details how these projects differ from traditional developments due to their mission-driven nature. “These are really mission-driven projects which is what makes them a little different than other developments,” Mian said. “The congregation is motivated and inspired by faith to build affordable housing but also by financial concerns and supporting the congregation.”
Mian’s team included research associate Marcelo Remond as well as graduate students Jyotsna Kumar and Sharanya Sahu. They defined “faith land” as any property owned by a religious entity, including buildings or adjacent lots such as parking areas. For example, they visited a church in New Brunswick that underwent adaptive reuse: parts of its structure were converted into apartments while maintaining its function as a church.
The researchers created a database with information about 200 such developments across the country after verifying ownership through tax records and crowdsourcing additional data for completeness. Sahu said that beyond providing homes, these projects often include community rooms or multi-use spaces available for local organizations to rent out: “Something that would be really cool to keep in mind for the Rutgers community or anyone in general, is that these spaces are trying to remain connected to the community around them.”
The team noted technical challenges faced by congregations when pursuing such initiatives—particularly gaps in knowledge about connecting with experts or navigating development processes—and called for municipalities to offer more support: “A lot of these projects require technical assistance and capacity building and so there’s space for municipalities to kind of provide that support for housing of worship to do this work,” Mian said.
According to the official website, the Edward J. Bloustein School operates within Rutgers University and focuses on fostering just, socially inclusive communities at various levels; it has earned national recognition for its programs in urban planning and public health; advances social impact through specialized research centers; honors distinguished alumni via annual awards; and since 2023 has been led by Dean Stuart Shapiro.