skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump's pick to lead DEA withdraws from consideration; Report: NYS hospitals' operating margins impact patient care; Summit County, CO aims to remain economically viable in warming climate; SD Gov. sets aside 2026 budget funds for new education savings accounts.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

GOP Senators voice reservations about Kash Patel, Trump's FBI pick. President Biden continues to face scrutiny over pardoning his son. And GOP House members gear up for tough budget fights, possibly targeting important programs.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Residents in Colorado's rural communities face challenges to recycling, climate change and Oregon's megadrought are worrying firefighters, and a farm advocacy group says corporate greed is behind high food prices in Montana.

Today: Richmond Candidate Forum to Focus on 'Housing Crisis'

play audio
Play

Tuesday, September 12, 2023   

Advocates for affordable housing in Virginia are holding a forum today for Richmond region candidates to speak with local residents about the state's housing crisis. Across Virginia, the median rent has increased 24%. Earlier this year, the City of Richmond declared a housing crisis based on low housing inventory. Virginia's General Assembly has taken up legislation to aid with this issue in the past, though it hasn't always been successful.

Laura Dobbs, policy director for Housing Opportunities Made Equal, said there are things the state can do.

"The state needs to invest a lot in housing," she said. "Both on the affordable side of simply preserving our existing affordable housing stock, building more affordable housing, but also on the home ownership side."

She added the state has an opportunity to invest in a more robust down-payment assistance program for homeowners. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates Virginia has more than 250,000 extremely low-income households, but only around 80,000 affordable homes available to rent. The forum starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 in Auditorium 101 of the Richmond Public Library's Main Branch.

The Richmond Eviction Lab finds statewide, eviction filings increased almost 4% between the end of 2022 and early 2023. But eviction judgements declined more than 9% in the same time period.

Christie Marra, housing advocacy director with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, thinks pandemic-era protections need to be reinstated to prevent eviction risks from rising further.

"We'd like to see the requirement that landlords provide information to tenants on that 'pay or quit' notice, about where they can go to get rental assistance, if their locality has anything," she explained.

Marra also called for the 14 day 'pay or quit' eviction notice be brought back. She said the state knows what works, but elected officials need to have the courage to implement these policies.

Disclosure: Virginia Poverty Law Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Civil Rights, Housing/Homelessness, Poverty Issues, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Research on the effects of a school voucher program in Louisiana show academic performance decreased among kids who use vouchers to attend private schools. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

In this week's 2026 budget address, Gov. Kristi Noem proposed establishing education savings accounts for K-12 students in South Dakota. Opponents …


Environment

play sound

The most current study from the Environmental Protection Agency estimated more than 143 million Americans are at risk of drinking water tainted with P…

Social Issues

play sound

Maryland has one of the highest percentages in the nation of people in prison who began serving time when they were juveniles. A new report from …


The unpaid care provided by more than 580,000 Wisconsin caregivers is valued at $9.2 billion, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

More than 580,000 Wisconsinites are unpaid family caregivers and they serve as the backbone of the state's long-term care system, and one …

Environment

play sound

A county high in the Colorado Rockies is working to include its underserved residents in plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the primary driver …

State officials say in 2023, Minnesota's workplace injury and illness rate fell to an all-time low. (Freepik)

Social Issues

play sound

There is promising news at the national level and in Minnesota in trying to lower workplace injuries and illnesses. A key labor organization is happy …

Social Issues

play sound

By Dakarai Turner for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service…

Health and Wellness

play sound

A new report found New York hospitals are in a precarious financial state. The New York State Hospitals Fiscal Survey Report showed statewide …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021