What: Demonstration for housing at Waynesboro City Council Budget Hearing

When: Monday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building, 503 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980

Waynesboro, Va. – The Waynesboro Chapter of Virginia Organizing, along with tenants who live throughout the city, will hold a demonstration at the city council’s public budget hearing on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. to make their voices heard. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. outside council chambers at 503 West Main Street. Chapter members and tenants will demand that council hold local landlords accountable by investing in a full-time property maintenance inspector.

“Tenants in Waynesboro have had enough of local rent prices skyrocketing while their maintenance requests continue to be ignored,” said Savannah Fersner, a leader in the Waynesboro Chapter. “More than half of Waynesboro residents are low income workers. Landlords know that most tenants cannot afford to lose their housing and are taking advantage of them by refusing to upkeep their rental units and threatening collective punishment.”

Connie Wright-Zink, another Virginia Organizing leader, will also attend the demonstration Tuesday.

“Some landlords have taken advantage of tenants by ignoring maintenance requests and refusing to maintain their rental units. Now we as activists and tenants are pushing for the Waynesboro City Council to take action. We are demanding the city invest in a full-time property maintenance inspector to address our concerns and hold landlords accountable,” Wright-Zink said.

To interview a spokesperson, contact Nora Scott at noras@virginia-organizing.org or 434-226-0426.