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Norfolk presents data and local solutions as Virginia cities report rising evictions
Summary
Norfolk officials told the Virginia Housing Commission work group that evictions have risen since 2020, presented city-run prevention efforts that served hundreds with local, state and federal funds, and urged standardized court data and permissive authority for local eviction diversion programs.
Norfolk city officials and Virginia First Cities representatives told the Affordable Housing Solutions work group on Sept. 8 that evictions remain a significant and costly problem in many older Virginia cities, and that coordinated prevention strategies and better data are needed to reduce filings and executions.
Councilwoman Mamie Johnson described eviction as “the last level before homelessness” and gave a personal example to underscore the human impact. Kimberly Pierce, director of neighborhood services for the City of Norfolk, presented a decade of local data compiled from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office and described the city’s Rent Ready Norfolk and Norfolk Eviction Prevention Center programs, which provide tenant and landlord education, limited financial assistance, and casework.
Pierce said Norfolk’s housing market and demographic profile make evictions a…
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