We advocate for housing policies that expand choices for renters, hold landlords accountable, and prevent unfair restrictions that limit where low-income Virginians can live, work, and raise their families. We fight to eliminate discriminatory zoning and occupancy laws, promote tenant-centered solutions, and ensure every community offers fair access to opportunity. Because housing choice shouldn’t depend on income, race, or zip code.
Our work in this area includes:
Fighting Housing Discrimination at Its Source
No one should be denied housing based on how they pay rent. Yet renters who rely on housing vouchers, disability benefits, or child support often face discrimination from landlords and property managers. We work to eliminate source-of-income discrimination by:
- Advocating for policies that ban this practice across Virginia.
- Promoting landlord education and legal accountability.
- Expanding access to high-opportunity neighborhoods for voucher holders.
- Supporting tenants in asserting their rights when faced with illegal denials.
Improving Quality and Safety Standards for Rentals
Many low-income renters are forced to choose between affordability and livability. We’re working to raise the standard by:
- Pushing for landlord accountability when tenants face unsafe or substandard conditions
- Supporting local and statewide reforms that prioritize tenant health and dignity
- Educating renters about their rights to safe and habitable housing
- Advocating for stronger enforcement of health and safety codes
Advocating for Tenant Rights
Eviction records – even when cases are dismissed – can haunt renters for years. In 2023 alone, 30,108 eviction cases were dismissed. This reform ensures they don’t follow renters unfairly. We’ve also:
- Led a coalition to pass legislation for automatic expungement of dismissed eviction cases
- Educated lawmakers about the long-term impact of these records
- Helped remove barriers to housing for thousands of Virginians
Our Housing Advocacy Team
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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