Residents and advocates press council to prioritize anti-rent-gouging measures and a resident-led Gilpin housing plan

Several Richmond residents and housing advocates used the public-comment period to press the City Council to prioritize anti-rent-gouging legislation, stronger tenant protections and resident-led safeguards for public-housing redevelopment.

Kashisha Pillay, a housing policy analyst with New Virginia Majority, told council members Richmond must pair increased housing supply with protections, saying "Anti rent gouging stops unfair rent hikes" and that supply alone will not protect renters from predatory practices.

Rosemarie Castillo, a Ninth District renter who said she lives at Southwood Apartments, described a recent rent rise from $775 to $1,400 and reported ongoing maintenance problems including cockroaches, mice and mold. "I started paying $775 a month. And starting last month, now I'm paying $1,400 a month," Castillo said, adding that court fees and late charges had compounded her financial strain.

Representatives of statewide and local housing groups also spoke. Deanna (Diana) Smith of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia urged council to adopt a package combining anti-rent-gouging rules, a rental inspection program and resident-informed redevelopment. Smith said Richmond remains "one of the most renter cost-burdened cities in the country," and cited figures she attributed to her organization: median rent near $1,513 and a needed household income of about $68,000 to afford typical rent.

Omari Al Qadafi of the Legal Aid Justice Center and Gilpin residents presented a petition and a "Better Deal for Gilpin" plan developed by residents and advocates. Al Qadafi said the petition had signatures from more than 600 people and asked council to enter it into the public record; he said Mayor Danny Avila had publicly endorsed parts of the plan on Sept. 11, 2025.

Kiara Harris, speaking on behalf of Gilpin residents, outlined three core principles in the resident-driven proposal: ensure redevelopment benefits current residents economically, provide meaningful resident representation in decisions and prevent displacement by preserving unit counts and public ownership where possible.

Other speakers including Emeka Anya and members of New Virginia Majority described disability and voucher-related displacement risks, and stressed that Black neighborhoods were being disproportionately affected. Cassie Knight, a community member who said she supports Gilpin residents, said she had videos alleging improper behavior by a private developer and said a Gilpin resident received a threatening phone call; she requested the council's attention but did not ask for a specific vote.

No formal council action on these public comments was recorded during the meeting; speakers asked council to include anti-rent-gouging measures in its 2026 legislative priorities and to adopt resident protections in public-housing redevelopment.