The City of Chattanooga, in collaboration with national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners and several local foundations, has announced the launch of the Faith-Based Development Initiative (FBDI). This program aims to unlock a significant, underutilized resource–land owned by houses of worship–to address the city’s critical need for affordable housing.
The initiative is backed by local partners, including the Maclellan Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and the Generosity Trust. It will provide technical assistance, grant funding, and connections to qualified developers, empowering faith communities to transform surplus property into affordable housing and vital community assets.
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly highlighted the potential of the partnership.
“Houses of worship own a significant amount of underutilized land and this untapped resource can help meet our housing needs,” Mayor Kelly said. “Chattanooga’s initiative will build on Enterprise Community Partners’ nearly 20 years of experience supporting faith-based organizations nationwide.”
Enterprise’s FBDI has a strong national track record, having helped congregations create over 1,900 affordable homes across the country, with another 8,000 homes currently in the development pipeline.
“Faith communities have always been anchors of care, belonging and stability for their neighbors,” said Dr. Christie Cade, Vice President and Southeast Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “By partnering with congregations to steward their land for homes and community benefit, we can translate that calling into brick-and-mortar solutions.”
The local launch will officially kick off with a “Clarion Call” event on Jan. 7, 2026, from 12-3 p.m. at the Downtown Chattanooga Public Library (1001 Broad Street, fourth floor). The event invites leaders from all faith backgrounds to learn about Chattanooga’s housing crisis and how their congregations can participate.
Enterprise will provide an overview of the initiative and showcase examples of successful faith-based housing projects from across the Southeast. Following the Clarion Call, interested congregations will be invited to submit online applications for the inaugural Chattanooga FBDI cohort.
Eight houses of worship will be selected to receive comprehensive training, pre-development grant funding, and individualized technical assistance over a three-year period to move their vision for affordable housing or mixed-use development from conception to completion.
Local funding partners emphasized that the initiative aligns perfectly with their missions of service and community impact.
Chris Maclellan, Chairman Elect at the Maclellan Foundation, stated, “Our Christian faith compels us to respond with compassion to those in need, and this partnership offers a practical way to do so by expanding access to affordable housing in Chattanooga.”
Maeghan Jones, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, echoed this sentiment: “Faith communities are uniquely positioned to lead in this moment–not only through their spiritual leadership, but also through the stewardship of land and resources that can be used to create affordable housing. We’re proud to support this initiative.”
Dr. James R. Barber, President of the Generosity Trust, noted that several churches are already in the planning stages for property use.
“Enterprise is coming in at a good time to partner with church leaders, who are committed to loving their neighbors by offering affordable housing,” he said.
Faith leaders interested in attending the Clarion Call and learning more about how to apply for the cohort can register online at: https://web.cvent.com/event/4ef57f4f-5780-4c3f-8a64-aa0a32b640d0/summary.