Housing is essential, but for too many Virginians, it’s out of reach or constantly at risk. At VPLC, we advocate for policies that increase housing stability, affordability, support tenant rights, and challenge the practices that lead to unjust evictions and poor housing conditions.
Our work focuses on creating fair systems, implementing stronger legal protections and preventing landlords from taking advantage of low-income tenants. We collaborate with legal aid organizations, lawmakers, and directly with tenants to identify their most pressing challenges and push for real change.
Whether it’s rewriting outdated housing laws or helping someone stay in their home, our goal is simple: make Virginia a place where safe, affordable housing is not a privilege, but a right.
How We Work to Keep Virginians Housed
Advancing Fair & Equitable Homeownership
Owning a home is one of the most powerful tools for building long-term financial stability and generational wealth. But for many Virginians, the path forward is inaccessible.
Defending Public & Subsidized Housing Rights
Public housing was designed to offer a foundation. But when systems fail, residents are left with few protections and fewer options.
Expand Tenant Housing Options & Protections
We believe renters should have choices that are safe and convenient, but many low-income renters face limited or unsafe choices as well as discriminatory practices.
Manufactured Home Ownership
For many families, owning a manufactured home is a pathway to stability, safety, and generational wealth. But they’re vulnerable to exploitation because they often don’t own the land beneath them even if they own their home. We believe the home you own should come with rights and protections you can count on.
Preventing Evictions and Displacement
Evictions displace families, destabilize communities, and deepen the cycle of poverty.
New Report: Attorney Fees Deepen Housing Instability
Featured:
Unreasonable: Attorney Fees Deepen Housing Instability
A new report from Virginia Poverty Law Center and VCU’s RVA Eviction Lab exposes how growing attorney fees are deepening Virginia’s eviction crisis. Despite clear standards in Virginia law, tenants across the state are being charged hundreds — even thousands — of dollars each in legal fees, often for cases that require only negligible attorney time.
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Our Impact
20,000 People used the Eviction Defense Center
Our new online hub, fightmyeviction.org, launched in 2024 to provide tenants with practical tools and in-person support through partnerships with public libraries.
$5M million for first-time homebuyers
Secured RGGI funds to help very low-income Virginians purchase energy-efficient homes through down-payment assistance.
200+ Households canvassed in eviction-prone neighborhoods
Through partnerships and grassroots outreach, VPLC connected with tenants facing court dates, distributed bilingual materials, and provided pre-court prep sessions to strengthen housing stability.
Maria's Story
Justice in Real Life: Maria
Elevating tenants’ voices to drive lasting housing reform across Virginia.
Ensuring Access to Safe and Affordable Housing News and Insights
Update
Risky Financing Puts Manufactured Homeowners at Risk
A new Pew study finds 1 in 5 manufactured home buyers use risky contract financing—an issue VPLC sees firsthand in its housing justice work across Virginia.
Update
Unreasonable: Attorney Fees Deepen Housing Instability
A new report shows inflated attorney fees in Virginia eviction cases are pushing families deeper into debt and worsening the state’s housing crisis.
Update
Applications Now Open for New Manufactured Home Parks Affordable Housing Pilot Program
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is accepting applications for the Manufactured Home Park Acquisition Pilot (MHPAP) Program, supporting efforts by manufactured home park residents and nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) to acquire manufactured home communities in Virginia.
