Housing

The data presented Wednesday to lawmakers drove home the commonwealth’s deepening affordability crisis.

The pending eviction cases came before the Henrico General District Court less than a month after state-level protections for tenants — created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic — expired in the commonwealth.

Richmond city officials unveiled their vision for a new “Diamond District” near Scott's Addition last week. Those plans, in addition to redeveloping a large parcel of public land, included a proposal to demolish the Arthur Ashe Athletic Center.

“There really wasn’t a lot of guidance and material to help with treatment of historic buildings that didn’t require such a major intervention,” said Paige Pollard, one of the group’s leaders.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development is closing the portal on its website where people can apply for relief at midnight, May 15. Due to a surge in applications, department officials say they’re concerned those requests could exceed the federal funding that’s currently available.

Housing advocates say legislation passed by the General Assembly on a bipartisan vote would have helped reign in the most negligent landlords. Now they’re questioning Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s veto of the bill.

For decades, Richmond leaders have talked about wanting to re-envision and recreate public housing neighborhoods. It appears that the time may have come.

In Charlottesville, for every 10 families who need affordable housing they're only four homes available.

The Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech received a $500,000 grant to fund a 3D home building printer. Dr. Andrew McCoy, director at VCHR, says they’re using the innovation grant to transform affordable housing options in Virginia.

Photographer Julia Rendleman captured the lives of those facing housing insecurity and living in the motels along Jeff Davis Highway.