Divine Development: How Unused Church Land Could Unlock Attainable Housing

LOS ANGELES, CA – July 09, 2026 – In cities across America, the search for solutions to the intractable housing crisis often overlooks a vast, hidden resource hiding in plain sight: thousands of acres of underutilized land owned by churches and other faith-based organizations. A new company, OLOS, has launched with a mission to unlock this potential, aiming to transform aging properties and empty lots into vibrant, attainable housing communities.

Created at the intersection of real estate development, technology, and ministry, OLOS proposes a new way for these institutions to address one of their communities' most pressing needs. The company works with churches to structure development partnerships, secure capital, and manage projects from concept to completion, allowing them to repurpose assets without selling off their heritage or taking on massive debt.

“Churches are deeply embedded in their neighborhoods and communities, and many now have an opportunity to play a meaningful role in creating attainable housing,” said Christopher Montes, founder and CEO of OLOS, in the company's launch announcement. Montes, a veteran of housing finance and faith-based partnerships, believes the model allows churches to serve future generations by envisioning “what is possible with the land and properties they already have.”

The 'YIGBY' Movement Gains a High-Tech Partner

The launch of OLOS arrives at a pivotal moment, propelled by a burgeoning movement known as “Yes In God’s Backyard” (YIGBY). This nationwide push advocates for leveraging the immense land holdings of religious institutions to build affordable housing. The scale of this opportunity is staggering. According to some estimates, religious groups in the United States collectively own over 2.6 million acres of land. In California alone, a 2023 law known as SB 4, or the “YIGBY Act,” unlocked an estimated 171,000 acres of developable land owned by faith-based organizations and non-profit colleges, according to analysis from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.

This legislation, which streamlines permitting and overrides some local zoning restrictions for affordable housing projects on such land, has created a powerful tailwind for the movement. It signals a growing consensus among policymakers that faith communities are not just stakeholders but essential partners in solving the housing shortage. However, possessing land and possessing the expertise to develop it are two different things. Churches often lack the capital, real estate knowledge, and internal capacity to navigate the labyrinthine world of property development.

This is the gap OLOS aims to fill. By acting as a specialized partner, it provides the professional scaffolding that allows congregations to move from intention to action. It isn't the first organization to work in this space—non-profits like Enterprise Community Partners have long-standing initiatives—but OLOS is packaging technology, capital, and development management into a single, market-driven service.

Beyond the Collection Plate: A New Model for Ministry

For many churches, the 21st century has brought dwindling congregations and the immense financial strain of maintaining large, aging buildings on shrinking budgets. The traditional options have often been painful: sell a cherished property to a commercial developer, merge with another congregation, or take on unsustainable debt for repairs. OLOS presents a fourth option, one that reframes land from a liability into a dynamic asset for mission and financial stability.

The company’s model is built on long-term partnership rather than a one-time transaction. Instead of selling their land, a church can enter into a long-term ground lease, retaining ownership while allowing development to proceed. This structure can generate a steady, predictable income stream for the church, funding its ministries and operations for decades to come. In many cases, the development project can also include a new, modern, and right-sized facility for the congregation, built at no cost to them.

This approach aligns financial sustainability with social impact. The new housing serves the “missing middle”—teachers, service workers, ministry staff, and other working families who are increasingly priced out of the neighborhoods they serve. It allows a church to deepen its community engagement and live out its mission in a tangible, visible way.

“Our model is based on trust, alignment and a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Tarik Black, senior vice president of business development at OLOS. “Churches can strengthen their long-term financial position, communities can gain needed housing, investors can participate in responsible development, and local developers can help bring projects to life.”

An AI-Powered Blueprint for Urban Renewal

A key component that sets OLOS apart is its technology-first approach. The company has developed a proprietary, AI-enabled platform to conduct rapid feasibility studies—a process that has traditionally been slow, expensive, and fraught with uncertainty. Real estate development is often a game of patience and deep pockets, with developers spending months and significant capital on architects, lawyers, and consultants just to determine if a project is viable.

OLOS’s tool automates and accelerates this critical first step. By ingesting vast datasets on local zoning regulations, construction costs, market rents, and demographic trends, the AI can generate detailed analyses of a property’s development potential in a fraction of the time. It can model different scenarios, projecting financial returns for the church, assessing community impact, and flagging potential roadblocks. According to industry analysts, similar AI-driven tools in the property technology (PropTech) sector have been shown to reduce early-stage research time by as much as 70%.

This data-driven clarity empowers church leaders, who are often volunteers, to make informed decisions without committing to a costly and complex path prematurely. It also de-risks the project for potential investors and development partners, making it easier to attract the necessary capital and expertise. While the use of AI in urban planning raises important questions about data bias and algorithmic transparency, a focused tool designed for a specific social good could prove revolutionary if implemented responsibly.

From Blueprint to Reality: Navigating a Complex Path

While the promise is immense, the path from a church parking lot to a multi-family housing complex is anything but simple. Navigating local politics, securing financing, and managing construction are monumental tasks that have stalled countless well-intentioned projects. The success of OLOS will depend on its ability to execute on its ambitious vision and shepherd its partners through this complexity.

The company enters a field with a growing number of players, from non-profit housing developers and community land trusts to city-sponsored initiatives aimed at activating faith-owned land. Its integrated model—combining the roles of financial strategist, technology provider, and development manager—is its primary competitive advantage.

With its official launch, OLOS is betting that a combination of divine assets and digital intelligence can build a more equitable future. The need is undeniable, and the land is waiting. The true test will be transforming blueprints and balance sheets into buildings where people can live, work, and worship, creating a new legacy for institutions at the heart of their communities.