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Residents press council to prioritize anti–rent-gouging legislation and protect housing funding
Summary
Speakers during public comment urged Richmond City Council to add anti–rent-gouging measures to the legislative agenda and to preserve affordable-housing revenues after multiple speakers claimed housing funds have been diverted.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press Richmond City Council to prioritize anti–rent-gouging legislation at the state level and to demand that the city preserve funding intended for affordable housing.
Casey Miller, a renter in the Seventh District, told council “56% of us in this city rent,” and urged the council to ask the General Assembly to make anti–rent-gouging legislation a priority. Miller said she had traveled to Richmond earlier in the year to support SB 1136, a state bill she said would have allowed cities to place reasonable limits on rent increases; she described that bill’s failure as disappointing and said the council’s silence had signaled renters were not a priority.
Jana Hobbs, speaking with New Virginia Majority, described personal experiences that she said illustrated predatory management practices and asked the council to include anti–rent-gouging on the city’s state legislative agenda.
Testimony also focused on the city budget. Miller told council that “$9,000,000 was set aside for affordable housing, and it is now being diverted,” and linked some of that alleged diversion to funding for a national slavery museum and to a proposed restitution payment; speakers later elaborated on the specific contested transfer from a delinquent-tax-sale special fund. RISC, community groups and other speakers urged council to ensure the Affordable Housing Trust Fund receives the revenue envisioned in prior ordinances and to return any diverted funds or identify alternative sources before approving transfers.
Council members acknowledged the city's housing crisis during the meeting and several pledged follow-up. Council members said they would work with the administration to clarify how housing funds have been used, to draft ordinances that secure dedicated revenue streams for affordable housing, and to consider complementary tools—such as local rental subsidies—alongside the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
