Story
Justice in Real Life: Maria
Elevating tenants’ voices to drive lasting housing reform across Virginia.
Maria Allen lives in a Richmond housing project, in an apartment where cold wind seeps through holes in the floor and summer heat lingers due to poor insulation.
The air she pays to heat or cool simply escapes. The stove and refrigerator are decades old. Mice and lizards find their way in from a nearby field. Just one maintenance worker is responsible for 400 units.
Downstairs, Maria’s sister faces similar conditions— ongoing leaks forced her to remove her kitchen cabinets altogether.
I grew up in a place like this,” Maria says. “So, I’ve never really known much better. But it was never this bad. The worst part is living in constant fear.
Outside her apartment, safety feels out of reach.Gunfire, loose dogs, and street fights are common. A security van patrols the area, but tenants see little impact.
Maria’s experience reflects a growing crisis in public and subsidized housing across Virginia—where aging infrastructure, short-staffed management, and lack of accountability leave tenants in unsafe, unhealthy conditions.
Virginia Poverty Law Center works to uphold tenants’ rights, demand stronger housing standards, and hold public housing authorities accountable. No one should have to live in fear—or pay for housing that fails to meet basic human needs.
Justice in Real Life is a photography and storytelling campaign launched by VPLC in 2025. It shares real stories from Virginians facing poverty and injustice, highlighting their struggles and the changes we’re advocating for. Want to tell your story? Contact VPLC Communications Director Connie Stevens, connie@vplc.org.
