Leap of faith: Churches could become San Jose’s next affordable housing sites

A house of worship could be the next refuge for people looking for a permanent home.

San Jose and local faith leaders are proposing a change to the city’s affordable housing plans that would allow developers to build at gathering places such as churches, private clubs, lodges and theaters, bypassing the city’s often lengthy permit and approval process—land the city calls public/quasi-public, or PQP.