Yasmine Jumaa

After a federal class-action lawsuit, Richmond's public housing authority voted to change a billing process that racked up cascading late fees for tenants.

When courts reopened across Virginia, a wave of evictions flooded through them — and advocates raised concerns about the possibility of some being carried out unlawfully.

La ciudad de Richmond comenzó un programa de ayuda para pagar renta e hipoteca este lunes que ofrece apoyo económico a hogares de inmigrantes que han sido impactados por la pandemia de COVID-19.

The City of Richmond launched a rent and mortgage assistance program on Monday, that will offer relief to immigrant households that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evictions have resumed in Virginia — with 9,383 eviction hearings scheduled statewide through the end of July. However, some properties are still technically protected under a federal moratorium put in place under the CARES Act.

Virginians with certain felony convictions can now qualify for public benefits. Advocates say the new law, which took effect on July 1, breaks down some barriers for individuals reentering into the community.

Governor Ralph Northam launched a statewide rent and mortgage relief program on Monday.

The Eviction Lab at Princeton University unveiled an online tool on Friday that monitors eviction filings in 10 U.S. cities — including Richmond. Updated weekly, it compares the numbers of eviction filings to those from 2016, which data shows has significantly declined since the start of the pandemic.

Virginia will hold a primary on Tuesday, with mostly Congressional candidates on the ballot. Gov. Ralph Northam initially postponed the voting day from June 9 to June 23 because of the pandemic. Now, the state’s Department of Elections has issued guidelines for localities to implement increased safety measures and procedures in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

While protests continue in Richmond, advocates are speaking out about a mass arrest of demonstrators on Sunday, May 31. Detainees were held on buses for hours and one said they were the target of anti-Muslim slurs while in custody.