Community Leaders Call on Gov. Youngkin to Sign Bills to Expand Housing Accessibility and Tenant Rights
What: Statewide week of action to call on Governor Youngkin to sign housing bills
When: March 9 – 16 (See schedule below)
Where: Ten locations from Wise County to Hampton Roads
Charlottesville, Va. – Starting Saturday, Virginia Organizing’s chapters will hold 10 actions in communities around Virginia on the housing crisis to urge Gov. Glenn Youngkin to sign several housing bills that will contribute to tenant rights and a better quality of life for all renters in Virginia.
At these events, Virginia Organizing chapter leaders will share why this legislation matters in their communities and call on the governor to sign the bills into law.
“Housing the unsheltered is essential,” said Lisa Respass, a Virginia Organizing member from Portsmouth. “We are proud of the work that the General Assembly has done in starting basic protections for renters. We call on Gov. Youngkin to pass these measures into law. I am a renter dealing with these sorts of issues right now.”
“Governor Youngkin must sign these housing bills into law because they will stem the flood of houselessness that is threatening Virginia because of unaffordable housing and indecent living conditions,” said Jocelyn Hildebrand, a resident of Blacksburg and a member of Virginia Organizing’s housing strategy committee. “We need to make houses affordable and decent — it is a human right to have shelter. You have bipartisan support for these bills and huge public support for them. Please make sure they become law, Gov. Youngkin!”
“At no point should anyone have to look at basic needs bills to decide which one to pay,” said Tiffany Hunter, a leader in the Wise County Chapter of Virginia Organizing. “We have to press for equity in basic needs.”
Schedule of Events
Danville Rally for Housing
Saturday, March 9 at 3 p.m.
Corner of Craghead and Patton (Downtown Danville)
South Hampton Roads Housing Symposium
Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m.
New Macedonia Christian UCC
1426 Marshall Ave., Norfolk, VA 23504
Fredericksburg Demonstration for Housing
Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m.
Thurman Brisben Center
71 Central Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Waynesboro Media Conference
Monday, March 11 at 2 p.m.
Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building
503 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980
Charlottesville Demonstration for Housing
Thursday, March 14 at 3 p.m.
Freedom of Speech Wall (Downtown Mall)
605 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA 22902
Newport News/Hampton Chapter Demonstration
Friday, March 15 at 11 a.m.
Phoebus Public Library
1 S. Mallory St., Hampton, VA 23663
New River Valley Demonstration for Housing
Friday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Outside Blacksburg Kroger
1322 South Main St., Blacksburg, VA
Richmond Media Conference
Friday, March 15 at 1 p.m.
Capitol Square Bell Tower
101 N. 9th St., Richmond, VA 23219
Wythe County Rally for Housing
Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m.
105 E. Main St., Wytheville, VA
Wise County Demonstration for Housing
Saturday, March 16 at 12 p.m.
Miner’s Park
420 Wood Ave. E, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219
To interview a spokesperson, contact Nik Belanger at 434-709-4953 or nik.belanger@virginia-organizing.org.
