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Residents ask Montgomery County supervisors to form working group for whole‑home repair program
Summary
Multiple speakers, organized by the New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing, urged the board to establish a working group to design a whole‑home repair program for low‑income renters and mobile‑home residents, citing hazards including mold, unsafe stairways and unaffordable repairs.
Several residents and organizers urged Montgomery County supervisors on March 23 to create a county working group to design a "whole home repair" program aimed at low‑income renters and mobile‑home residents who face unsafe housing conditions.
Ruth Green of the New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing said outreach to more than 1,800 mobile‑home residents uncovered problems ranging from mold and unsafe wiring to holes in floors and broken stairs. "We are here tonight to request the board of supervisors to set up a working group to address a current pressing need in our county," Green said.
Other speakers from Virginia Organizing described canvassing and resident stories and urged immediate action. "What will make people feel heard is to participate in the design of a whole home repair program," Marcy Schnitzer said. Megan Shepherd asked the board to "establish this working group where board members and community members work together to design a whole home repair program that reflects Montgomery County's commitment to housing safety."
Kelsey Houyard, a resident of the Oak Forest mobile‑home park, described water damage, ceiling cracks and recurring mold that she says threaten safety for her expanding family. Brandy Faulkner cited Virginia Code §15.2‑958 as authorizing localities to establish repair programs and asked the board to commit time and members to a working group.
The board did not take immediate formal action during the meeting but several supervisors acknowledged the problem and asked staff to provide information on costs and potential program structures in future meetings.
