Enterprise Community Partners announced that it is expanding its Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI) to Texas.

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With a $1 million grant from T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo, the national nonprofit is aiming to help spur the creation of more than 800 affordable homes on land owned by houses of worship in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

“Across the country, houses of worship own tens of thousands of acres of vacant or underutilized land. As costs for land and housing skyrocket around the nation, Enterprise’s FBDI empowers these community organizations to further serve their communities by creating affordable housing,” said David Bowers, vice president, Mid-Atlantic market, and senior adviser of FBDI. “This initiative is a beacon of hope, offering practical solutions to address the critical need for affordable homes.”

FBDI is credited with creating or preserving more than 1,600 affordable homes, with another 27,000 units in the pipeline, in the Mid-Atlantic since its inception in 2006.

As the program moves into Texas, it will provide financial support and technical resources to faith-based organizations that are considering using vacant or underdeveloped land to build affordable homes and community facilities.

Participants will have access to:

· Grants and capital: Funding to conduct a market study and feasibility analysis for their vision, pre-development support, and access to Enterprise’s capital products;

· Training: Virtual and in-person trainings using Enterprise’s curriculum to help houses of worship understand the ins and outs of the development process;

· Technical assistance and coaching: One-on-one technical assistance provided by development consultants and Enterprise staff to navigate the development process, as well as coaching from clergy who have previously completed projects;

· Access to industry professionals: Information on development professionals, such as architects, accountants, real estate lawyers, and developers; and

· Peer-to-peer learning: Geographic cohorts of faith-based organizations will network and learn from one another as they go through the process of housing development, and a national virtual summit will bring faith leaders from across the country together.