In Houston, the fight for affordable housing has reached a critical point.
As of September 2025, the state of affordable housing for Black people in the greater Houston area is marked by profound racial disparities and worsening conditions, especially for renters.
According to Rice University’s Kinder Institute, Harris County requires more than 20,000 new affordable housing units annually just to meet current demand.
With housing costs continuing to rise, advocates across the city say finding solutions will take the full participation of every sector—including faith institutions.
Worsening issues for Black Houstonians
While local and community-led initiatives are working hard to fill the gap, broader national trends and policies threaten to widen it.
Black households remain the most rent-burdened group in Texas. A March 2025 report found that 32% of Black renter households pay more than half their income on housing, leaving little for food, healthcare or savings.
The homeownership gap tells a similar story: While there’s been a slight uptick in Black homeownership in Harris County since 2021, the racial gap remains wide.
Buying a home is becoming even harder.
In July 2024, the Houston Association of Realtors reported that only 26% of Black households could afford a median-priced home, a decrease from the previous year. Meanwhile, historically Black neighborhoods such as Independence Heights and Third Ward face steep price increases fueled by gentrification, pushing longtime residents out.
And for renters, the picture is bleak. The Kinder Institute’s 2025 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston report showed that in just one year, about 15,000 new renters became cost-burdened. Federal cuts to housing programs like Section 8 could deepen that vulnerability, especially for Black families who rely on assistance to stay housed.
Local responses
Despite the obstacles, community groups, financial partners and the City of Houston are working to reverse these trends.
In April 2025, Black Men Buy Houses (BMBH) hosted an event in Houston to address the systemic barriers that Black men face in achieving homeownership. The city’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has opened new affordable communities, including the Old Spanish Trail Lofts, a 130-unit development, with more projects planned for South Acres and Greater Third Ward.
The “Own the HOU” initiative, led by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), aims to create 5,000 new homeowners of color this year, with funding support from Wells Fargo. And in October, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the opening of Hartwood at Spring Shadows, a $33 million affordable housing community in Spring Branch.
CVS Health invested over $17 million in that project, demonstrating the growing corporate commitment to housing equity.
Faith institutions called
Houston City Councilmember Tiffany Thomas (District F) believes faith institutions must play a central role in the search for solutions. On Oct. 11, she will host the 2nd Annual Faith and Affordable Housing Summit at the Kingdom Builders’ Center, bringing together faith leaders, developers, financial partners and community advocates.
“This summit is about action, not just conversation,” Thomas said. “Faith institutions sit on land and resources that can change the trajectory of housing and economic stability in Houston if we connect them to the right tools, partners and financing.”
Her vision is to “bridge that gap” between vision and opportunity—helping churches, members and families move from inspiration to implementation.
“Faith institutions sit on land and resources that can change the trajectory of housing and economic stability in Houston if we connect them to the right tools, partners and financing.”
Houston City Councilmember Tiffany Thomas, District F
The potential is enormous. Across the country, religious institutions own more than 2.6 million acres of land—much of which remains underutilized.
“At this year’s summit,” Thomas said, “you will hear from financial leaders, developers and faith institutions already charting the path forward… showcasing how faith and finance can align for community transformation.”
Faith in action
One of the most prominent examples of faith-driven development in Houston is the work of Lay Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, whose leadership at Windsor Village transformed 234 acres of land into more than 450 homes. Thomas calls it “a living testament to faith put into action.”
The upcoming summit will feature Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Housing and Insurance. He will discuss pending national housing legislation that could bring transformative change.
Attendees will also hear from organizations such as Guaranty Bank, Greater Houston Builders Association, the City of Houston’s HCD and Enterprise Community Partners—all focused on expanding access to housing.
For Candice Lovett, a District F resident who attended last year’s summit, faith-based gatherings like this help bridge the gap between aspiration and action.
“As someone who entered the home-buying process with no guidance from my family, I know how hard it is when housing options seem out of reach,” Lovett said. “I want attendees to feel empowered to advocate for themselves and others. Affordable housing isn’t just about shelter—it’s about creating stability, opportunity and a foundation for a better future.”
Faith-based organizations often serve as trusted anchors in Black communities, providing not only spiritual nourishment but also practical support—helping members navigate systems that often feel stacked against them.
Partnerships that build more than homes
Financial partners also see faith communities as key collaborators in long-term housing solutions.
“At Texas First Bank, we believe that affordable housing requires public and private collaboration,” said Alvin Johnson, regional president of Texas First Bank. “We’re proud to play our part by providing financial solutions that help create more affordable homes for Houston families.”
That collaborative spirit—linking faith, finance and community vision—is what Thomas hopes will define Houston’s approach going forward.
“We’re creating a space where vision meets opportunity, and where the community leads in shaping solutions,” she said.
As Houston continues to grow and housing challenges deepen, the intersection of faith and housing may hold one of the city’s most promising paths forward. By transforming unused land into thriving neighborhoods and aligning spiritual missions with practical development, faith communities could help turn a moral calling into real-world change.
In a city built on resilience and renewal, faith may prove to be not just a source of hope—but a foundation for home.
