Richmond’s mayor unveiled a new plan to help tackle the city’s eviction crisis during his annual state of the city address Thursday night.
According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, Richmond has some of the highest eviction rates in the country. And Virginia’s capitol isn’t the only locality near the top of the list. So is Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney says that’s unacceptable.
“Few things are more stressful on a family than not having a stable place to lay their head at night,” said Stoney during his speech.
The city is launching a pilot program to help tenants who may have missed a month’s rent, and keep them from being evicted in the first place. Participants will be given cash assistance, free legal help, and financial literacy classes.
“And landlords would also get the rent owed and avoid the expense of the eviction and finding a new tenant,” said Stoney.
The eviction diversion program will be run out of the city courthouse, with help from Central Virginia Legal Aid and Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia. The program will be the first of its kind in the state.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
