Our
Mission
Virginia Poverty Law Center uses advocacy, education, and litigation to break down systemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty.
Judge Urges Protection of Consumer Financial Data as Virginia Poverty Law Center Joins Lawsuit to Stop CFPB Dismantling
Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) has joined a lawsuit against Acting Director…
Federal legislation aims to keep families together
By Valerie L’Herrou. Published in The Virginian-Pilot: February 7, 2025 (subscription required)…
HB2621: Promises of Savings for APCo Customers Won’t Bring Needed Immediate Relief
By Carmen Bingham, VPLC Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Project Coordinator HB2621, as…
Bank Fees Sent Him into a Debt Spiral
Thursday, February 6th, 2025 For Carlos Wimberly, the whole mess started at…
New Report: Medicaid Plays More Significant Role in Small Towns and Rural Communities than Metro Areas in Virginia
February 5, 2025 Richmond, VA – Medicaid and CHIP play a critical…
Paycheck to No Check: How Excessive Debt Collection Disrupts Lives
Tanya Webb is one of thousands of Virginians whose lives have been…
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy of Global Justice and Peace
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a transformative leader whose legacy continues…
VA’s Lawmakers Can Improve the Legal Process for Collecting Debt
This session of Virginia’s General Assembly brings opportunities for lawmakers to pave…
Virginia’s weak laws allow debt collectors to push more families into poverty, but some legislators are trying to help.
As working families continue to struggle through a perfect storm of high…
Fall Newsletter: SCC demands utility company assist struggling customers
VPLC Advocacy Helps Secure $85 Million Savings for Utility Customers Collectively, Appalachian…
Ward Scull: Honoring a Legendary Advocate for Fair Lending
by Jay Speer, VPLC Executive Director I have been thinking a lot…
VPLC Elevates DEI Amid Political Division
— By Louis Green, VPLC DEI Director It is no secret that…
VPLC and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks Respond to Senior Hunger Report
September 9, 2024 Richmond, VA – The Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP)…
VPLC joins Virginia’s Senators asking Governor Youngkin to allow direct file option
Direct File is the IRS’ first attempt to provide a free filing…
A win for transparency: ‘earned wage’ paycheck advance products are consumer loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed an interpretive rule explaining…
Beware the Loan Sharks Still Circling for Consumers
Shark Week 2024: Be Careful Where You Borrow By Jay Speer, Virginia…
New Rules for Utilities & Customer Shut-Offs
Utility providers cannot shut off your service for unpaid bills during certain…
New Law Protects Virginians Against Utility Shut-Offs During Extreme Heat
As heat waves roll through Virginia, a new law to protect residents…
Partnership to Help Richmond Renters Facing Eviction
Richmond, Va, June 27, 2024 – The Richmond Public Library (RPL) and…
Supreme Court Upholds Law That Bans Domestic Abusers From Owning Guns
Richmond, VA June 21, 2024 – Today, the Supreme Court of the…
Are You Ready for Virginia’s New Laws?
We hope you’ll join us online Thursday morning for an update on…
How do we fix Virginia’s housing crisis? Join VPLC for a Tenant Town Hall this summer
We don’t need to tell you, Virginia is in the middle of…
Virginia legal aid programs challenge debt buyers’ predatory practices in Virginia
By Jay Speer, VPLC Executive Director Last week Virginia legal aid programs…
Governor Youngkin’s vetoes keep low-income tenants at the mercy of slumlords
Thousands of residential tenants across the Commonwealth live in dangerously unhealthy conditions,…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A win for Virginia consumers
U.S. Supreme Court delivers good news for consumers and fair business practices,…
At VPLC, April is Help Families Thrive Month
Every April, Virginia and the nation observe “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” But…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: VPLC will help more low-income Virginians with civil legal issues thanks to $1M grant
Richmond, Va, March 19, 2024 – Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has awarded Virginia…
ACTION ALERT: Our dysfunctional health care system can ruin the lives of Virginians.
HB1370, introduced by Delegate Karrie Delaney, prohibits medical providers from reporting medical…
People and history shaping Virginia
Read the Black History Month Proclamation, signed by Governor Yougkin: WHEREAS, February…
Legal Pioneers in Black History
In honor of Black History Month, we’re sharing a list of twenty…
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ALERT! VPLC’s 2024 Housing Advocacy
To download this sheet as a PDF, click here.
LEGISLATION ALERT! Support Language Access Improvement in Virginia
To download this fact sheet as a PDF, click here.
LEGISLATION ALERT! Zombie Mortgage Foreclosures
Help Get Rid of Zombie Mortgage Foreclosures HB 184 by Delegate Simon…
LEGISLATION ALERT! Enforce Fairness in Lending
Make probate loans comply with the Virginia Fairness in Lending Act HB…
LEGISLATION ALERT! Dump the Junk Fees
Disclose all Mandatory Fees and Charges VPLC supports HB1320 (McClure) and SB388…
Class Actions Provide Better Access to Justice
Vote YES on House Bill 418 (Simon) The Virginia General Assembly passes…
Mapping an End to Hunger in Virginia
The Virginia Food Access Coalition (VFAC) has released an updated version of…
Parents Need Better Legal Protection
Parents need better legal representation When it comes to child dependency cases,…
VPLC on Pod Virginia: Fighting Predatory Landlords, Lenders, and Realtors
VPLC’s Jay Speer and Christie Marra appeared on Pod Virginia this week…
Stop the Spread of Junk Fees
Protect Virginia Consumers: Vote YES on SB 388 (Pekarsky) TAKE ACTION! Please…
LEGISLATION ALERT! Don’t Keep Virginians in the Dark
Keep the Lights on for Virginians Experiencing Hard Times VPLC supports HB906…
Legislation Tackles Much-Needed Minimum Wage Increase
A proposal to incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage, from $12 to…
Untangling Virginia’s Unemployment Insurance Overpayments
VIDEO! Attorney Flannery O’Rourke explains the problems…and the solutions. Note: see General…
People are struggling but workplace payday loans are not the answer.
People are struggling to pay their rent, utilities, and buy food. We…
Exploitative Lenders Fight Back Against Fair, Transparent & Competitive Loans
Why are the payday lenders trying to destroy the CFPB? The Consumer…
We Can’t Create a Lending Loophole: Pay a Living Wage
A few days into the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session, VPLC learned…
VPLC’s Invitation to Oliver Anthony: Join Us!
Odds are, by now you’ve heard about that song from a country singer in…
VPLC Receives Virginia Law Foundation 2023 Grant
With need for access to justice at an all-time high and the…
Recognize the Signs of a Scam and Avoid Becoming a Victim.
It seems like scams are everywhere and sometimes it feels like there’s…
If Children Are the Future, We Should Start Acting Like It.
While June, Family Reunification Month in Virginia and nationwide, has come to…
Getting Ready for Changes to the SNAP and TANF Work Requirements
VPLC hosted a webinar on Tuesday, June 27 to review important changes…
Work Requirements are Cruel and Insulting to Those in Need
During the debt ceiling negotiations, the topic of “work requirements” was front…
Cambios En 2023 En Los Beneficios De SNAP
El Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) proporciona fondos mensuales que ayudan…
Helping Families Thrive: A New Approach to Child Abuse Prevention
Author: Valerie L’Herrou/VPLC Family & Child Welfare Attorney Around the country and…
Matthew Desmond Book Event: Live & Virtual
Why does the United States, the richest country on earth, have more…
Changes to SNAP Benefits in 2023
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly funds that help low-income…
Navigating Unemployment Insurance
Update: New data indicates VEC performance is still among the worst in…
April is Fair Housing Month
In commemoration of Fair Housing Month, VPLC will host an open, online…
Remembering Our Dear Friend, Karl Bren
Our condolences are with the family of Karl Bren, a lifetime fair…
OPINION: Dominion Faces the Consequences of its Actions (Richmond Times Dispatch)
Read the Richmond Times Dispatch opinion piece by Albert Pollard, published February…
Sneaky Tactic to Reduce VEC Backlog
Thousands of unemployment claimants may find today that their unemployment appeals are…
Reimagining Virginia’s Mobile Home Parks
Over 350,000 Virginians live in Mobile Home Parks. According to the Department…
A Win for Under-Served Communities Harmed by Local Zoning Decisions
The Supreme Court of Virginia has ruled that Hanover County residents can…
Five Ways to Address the Virginia Employment Commission’s First Level Appeals Backlog
By Pat Levy-Lavelle, Legal Aid Justice Center and Flannery O’Rourke, Virginia Poverty…
When Virginia fails to provide meaningful legal representation to parents, it’s rural, low-income, and Black families who are torn apart.
Author: Anna Daniszewski/VPLC Legal Fellow Impressive reporting from Cardinal News this week…
VPLC Issues to Watch: Housing Affordability & Stability
VPLC supports legislative changes that address the rental housing crisis and strengthen…
Don’t Forget Legal Aid on Giving Tuesday
Did you know that Virginia Poverty Law Center was founded in 1978…
Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace begins. Let’s ENROLL VIRGINIA Nov.1 – Jan. 15!
Enroll Virginia’s statewide team of navigators is hard at work preparing for…
A Time to Recharge: 2022 Annual Statewide Legal Conference
More than 500 attorneys and staff members from Virginia’s legal aid community…
VPLC’s Bar Stars Join Fight for Justice
Congratulations to VPLC’s newest attorneys, Anna Daniszewski and Flannery O’Rourke, who passed…
Foster Care Update: Utilizing Kinship Care to Keep Families Together
Author: Anna Daniszewski/VPLC Legal Fellow Virginia Governor Youngkin’s Safe and Sound Task…
Calls to VPLC’s Eviction Legal Help Line Increase 500%
Now that important tenant protections have expired, Virginia courtroom dockets are stacked…
Lonnie “Chip” D. Nunley, III Selected for Pro Bono Award
It’s been said that the best way to find yourself is to…
Meet Anna Daniszewski, Family Defense Fellow
New to VPLC’s Center for Family Advocacy, Anna Daniszewski will help ensure…
Reducing the Trauma of Removal
Why Reunification and Sibling-Placements Are Crucial to the Well-Being of Children in…
Meet Our New VPLC Team Members
Flannery O’Rourke has joined VPLC as a Law & Policy Analyst. She…
Virginia’s Eviction Crisis
Since July 1, Virginia has seen nearly 16,000 new eviction cases, marking…
Grant Aims to Improve Access to Justice
VPLC is the recipient of a $32,500 grant from the Virginia Law…
Final Settlement in Class Action Suit Pays Hundreds of Millions from Illegal Internet Lending Schemes
Gibbs v. Elevate, Gibbs v. Stinson, Brice v. Stinson The US District…
Federal and State Lawsuits Fight ‘Slumlord’ Operating in Virginia
The Virginia Poverty Law Center, Consumer Litigation Associates and Kelly Guzzo have…
Virginia Poverty Law Center Expands Outreach
New Team Members Help Break Down Barriers to Justice RICHMOND, VA –…
Virginia Must Do Better By Families
By Valerie L’Herrou Families are important to all of us, but especially…
PRESS RELEASE: Class action settlement provides $489 million in relief to victims of illegal internet payday lenders
After three years of extensive litigation, the settlement will provide relief to…
PRESS RELEASE: Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center and Legal Aid Justice Center on Gubernatorial Vetoes of HB573 and SB297 (Medical Debt Reform)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2022 Virginia Poverty Law Center and Legal…
PRESS RELEASE: VPLC selects Salaam Bhatti as its new deputy director, hires Cassie Edner as its new public benefits attorney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Salaam Bhatti Cassie Edner RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia…
How Upfront Fees Make Rental Housing Unaffordable
An update from VPLC’s Director of Housing Advocacy, Christie Marra The NY…
Why Language Access is Essential for Domestic Violence Survivors
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this post comes from VPLC’s…
Celebrating National Energy Efficiency Day – and Continuing the Work to Rebuild Virginia’s Energy Landscape into a Balanced and Equitable System
October 6 is National Energy Efficiency Day. Today’s post comes from VPLC’s…
SNAP Expansion: What You Need to Know
On July 1, 2021, Virginia expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,…
“Family First:” Prioritizing Kinship Foster Care
In honor of National Kinship Care Month, today’s newsletter comes from VPLC’s…
Update on Eviction Protections in Virginia
A year and a half into the pandemic, laws around tenants’ right…
2021 Special Session Recap: How VPLC’s Budget Priorities Fared
When the General Assembly convened for a special 2021 session, we urged…
Equitable Rescue & Recovery: VPLC Special Session Budget Priorities
The Virginia General Assembly will convene in Richmond on Monday, August 2…
PRESS RELEASE: New anti-poverty laws take effect in Virginia today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2021 The suite of new laws will…
PRESS RELEASE: Medicaid expands to cover full dental services, prenatal services regardless of immigration status
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: July 1, 2021 Medicaid expands to cover full…
New Housing Laws Take Effect Today
Big changes in housing law are taking effect in Virginia, with many…
PRESS RELEASE: Jill Hanken, VPLC Health Attorney to Retire, VPLC Announces Scholarship Fund in Her Honor
The Jill A. Hanken Scholarship Fund will honor Hanken’s accomplishments and build…
Aging in Place with Community Support
Given a choice, most of us would choose to ‘age in place’…
PRESS RELEASE: Judge Orders VEC to Fix Issues at Agency
Judge Orders Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to End Unemployment Insurance Backlog and…
PRESS RELEASE: Thousands of Virginians are enrolling in health coverage through the ACA because of the American Rescue Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: May 13, 2021 Thousands of Virginians are enrolling…
PRESS RELEASE: USDA announces free lunches for all students through 2021-22 school year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: April 22, 2021 USDA announces free lunches for…
Sexual Assault Can and Does Happen to Everyone: Musings on Serving Male Victims
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we are featuring a blog…
PRESS RELEASE: Virginia Ends 10-Year Work History Requirement for Medicaid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: April 1, 2021 Contact: William Lineberry, Marketing &…
Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2021 Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law…
2021 Legislative Review
The 2021 General Assembly session officially ended Monday, with all the bills…
General Assembly Session Update: Special Session Winds Down
Many people are getting the vaccine, and there is hope that we…
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Halfway Through
Dear fellow housing advocates, We are roughly halfway through the 2021 regular…
General Assembly Session Update: Special Session in Full Swing, All Eyes on Budget Amendments
The 2021 General Assembly session has ended, but by order of the…
PRESS RELEASE: Enroll Virginia to Host Virtual Town Hall, Press Conference to Discuss the ACA Marketplace Reopening
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: February 11, 2021 Enroll Virginia to Host Virtual…
General Assembly Session Update: Recap on Week 3
While much of our work at the General Assembly is not making…
PRESS RELEASE: President Biden Reopens ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for New Open Enrollment Period
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2021 President Biden Reopens ACA Health Insurance…
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Week Three
Welcome to the third week of the 2021 legislative session. We have…
General Assembly Session Update: One Full Week Down
The 2021 General Assembly completed its first full week, and this virtual…
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Week Two
Welcome to the second week of the 2021 legislative session. We have…
Update from the Executive Director: Continuing the Fight for Economic Justice for All
The Virginia General Assembly is off and running. This is the 402nd…
Update from VPLC’s Housing Advocacy Team: Support Tenants’ Rights During 2021 Session
2021 legislative session starts today. Join us in supporting policies that improve…
Join Us! Happy Hour or Coffee & Chat with VPLC: 2021 Legislative Priorities
The Virginia General Assembly will convene on January 13, 2021. Join VPLC for…
PRESS RELEASE: Enroll Virginia Encourages Virginians to Sign Up for Health Coverage Before Dec. 15 Deadline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020 Enroll Virginia Encourages Virginians to Sign…
PRESS RELEASE: Open Enrollment Ends December 15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2020 Open enrollment for the Health Insurance…
PRESS RELEASE: VPLC Receives $750,000 Donation from Amazon to Help More Families Facing Eviction Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 16, 2020 Virginia Poverty Law Center Receives…
VPLC STATEMENT: On Governor Northam’s Announcement of Additional Funding for Rent and Mortgage Relief
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 7, 2020 STATEMENT OF VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW…
STATEMENT: On House and Senate Budget Language Regarding the Eviction Moratorium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, September 25, 2020 STATEMENT OF VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW…
PRESS RELEASE: Virginia Poverty Law Center releases new SNAP eligibility calculator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Virginia Poverty Law Center releases…
Virginia Poverty Law Center releases new report on imbalances in Virginia’s electric utility regulation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, August 19, 2020 Virginia Poverty Law Center releases…
Celebrating one legislative victory as we look toward more.
Last week, we celebrated an end to the injustice of predatory lending…
Reuniting Families During a Global Pandemic
June is Reunification Month: a celebration of children in foster care returning…
PRESS RELEASE: Va Supreme Court halts evictions through June 28 at request of Gov. Northam
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 CONTACT: Christie Marra, Director of…
Statement of Solidarity from VPLC
At the Virginia Poverty Law Center, racial injustice is inextricably linked to…
When Should a Child in Foster Care Have a Say in Their Future?
When a child has been removed from their family and placed into foster care,…
PRESS RELEASE: Advocates & lawmakers turn to Governor Northam to protect tenants after Supreme Court of Virginia dismisses petition seeking to halt eviction hearings in Petersburg
Advocates & lawmakers turn to Governor Northam to protect tenants after Supreme…
MEDIA ADVISORY: Virginia Poverty Law Center urges Virginia courts to protect tenants as courts reopen and eviction cases proceed
Virginia Poverty Law Center urges Virginia courts to pause hearing eviction cases…
Eviction Helpline Volunteer Profile: Peter Messitt, Esq.
We’re pleased to share our first Eviction Legal Helpline Volunteer Profile featuring…
Public Benefits and Hunger Programs During the COVID-19 Crisis
As we struggle to navigate a COVID-19-riddled world, please note that there…
Update on Evictions During COVID-19 Outbreak
Yesterday, we received a few responses to our COVID-19 update, telling us that…
A Letter to Our Community
To our clients and community, As the situation around COVID-19 evolves rapidly,…
Simplifying Access to Justice for Civil Litigants
The purpose of a court system is to enable all citizens—equally, without…
2020 Crossover Report
Last Tuesday was “Crossover Day” in the General Assembly, the last day…
MEDIA ADVISORY: Broad Coalition Calls for Passage of Popular Virginia Fairness in Lending Act in 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday January 6, 2020 Contact: Monica Lauw, Communications Manager,…
VPLC’s 2020 Legislative Priorities
View Virginia Poverty Law Center’s 2020 Legislative Agenda here. Stay updated on…
Relatives are Primary Caretakers of 70,000 Children in Virginia. The State Needs to Support Them.
“It takes a village to raise any child. The village shouldn’t pick…
Governor Northam’s Budget Prioritizes Housing, Health and Families
“Any budget is a moral statement of priorities, whether it’s a budget…
PRESS RELEASE: Del. Jones, Del. Ware Announce Bipartisan Fair Energy Bills Act
View press release PDF. For Immediate Release December 12, 2019 Del. Jones,…
Eviction Spotlight: Fighting eviction and reversing hundreds of dollars in unauthorized charges
Madolyn* is a single woman in her 50s who lives alone in…
As Healthcare.gov opens for enrollment on November 1st, most Virginians will see lower premiums and more choices on the Health Insurance Marketplace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jill Hanken jill@vplc.org (804) 351-5258 Richmond, Va, –…
Eviction Spotlight: Woman with P.h.D. fights eviction with assistance from the Helpline
Christina,* a single woman with a Ph.D. but a temporary disruption in…
We need high-quality representation for children. Family First Act funds can help.
At a discussion earlier this spring, Virginia youth shared experiences of working…
Escaping Domestic and Sexual Violence while Undocumented: One Survivor’s Story
By Susheela Varky, Director of the Center for Family Advocacy and Legal…
Eviction Spotlight: Helpline stops wrongful eviction for woman living in Central Virginia mobile home park
Janice* is a resident in a mobile home park in Central Virginia…
A company went bankrupt and left over 200 employees without jobs or health insurance. Enroll Virginia stepped in to help.
Recently, 240 employees of a Virginia business showed up for work and…
Volunteers Needed for Eviction Legal Helpline
Research shows that eviction is a significant cause, not just a result,…
Car Title Lenders: Driving Borrowers into a Cycle of Debt
No one should profit from trapping and feeding on families through predatory…
E-loan sharking: the latest loan shark tactic used to evade Virginia law
Loan sharks—payday lenders that catch borrowers in debt traps by offering small…
Family Reunification: Why It Matters
Reunification refers to the reunion of children in foster care with their…
Virginia candidates are raising money—but where is it coming from?
Recently, several stories surfaced about how much candidates are raising, but little…
Eviction Spotlight: Vietnam War vet faces eviction over PTSD-triggered confrontation with property manager
At VPLC, we witness many landlords taking advantage of low-income Virginians through…
Summer CAMHP in the Parks program brings community lawyering to mobile home parks
When residents of mobile home parks encounter a problem, legal aid attorneys…
New landlord-tenant laws, foster care reform, and restored driver’s licenses: new Virginia laws take effect July 1
Today, hundreds of new laws that passed during this year’s General Assembly…
Eviction Spotlight: Senior woman faces eviction from landlord over missing rent from housing authority
At VPLC, we witness many landlords taking advantage of low-income Virginians through…
Aging and fraud: how to fend off scammers as we grow older
As we age, we become more vulnerable to scammers. According to a…
After 10 long years, a LA VIDA client finally receives her green card
Alicia* was getting ready to have nursing school graduation pictures taken when…
Eviction Spotlight: Landlord illegally hauls woman’s mobile home into a vacant field on Easter weekend
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
VPLC Pushes CFPB to Keep Consumer Protection Rules in Place for Lenders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2019 CONTACT: Dana Wiggins, VPLC Director of…
Eviction Spotlight: Disabled Vietnam veteran faces eviction after Social Security check arrives late
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
To improve foster care in Virginia, work to keep families together
This April, Governor Northam signed bipartisan legislation improving foster care in Virginia,…
Eviction Spotlight: Getting evicted for criminal history related to untreated disabilities
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
New Coalition Launches to Reform Virginia Energy Policy
For Immediate Release New Coalition Launches to Reform Virginia Energy Policy Lower…
This Ramadan, join us in fighting hunger in Virginia
Sunday marked the start of Ramadan, the holiest month of the year…
Eviction Spotlight: Being forced out after filing a Tenant’s Assertion based on unlivable conditions
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
Eviction Spotlight: Chesterfield mother of three faces writ of possession executed against judgment
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
Surviving domestic and sexual violence while undocumented: one woman’s story
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). To learn more, visit the…
Seven new laws that will help renters sleep easier
Renting your home from someone else isn’t always easy, especially when you’re…
Eviction Spotlight: Getting evicted after reporting sexual assault
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
Solving the mobile home park problem
on an issue we’ve long been working on in Virginia: improving the…
Eviction Spotlight: Getting evicted after going to the press
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
General Assembly reconvenes for veto session
Today, the General Assembly reconvenes for its annual “veto session,” when lawmakers…
Promoting Consent for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This year’s theme for…
Eviction Spotlight: Virginia passed legislation this year to reduce evictions, but the problem is far from solved.
We often hear that tenants are the problem when it comes to…
Top tips for getting your finances on track
April is National Financial Literacy Month, a perfect time to get—and keep—your…
Statement of Virginia Poverty Law Center: On Governor Northam’s announcement to end automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid court debt
CONTACT: Christie Marra christie@vplc.org (804) 615-8150 RICHMOND, VA – Virginia Poverty Law…
More Virginia students have access to breakfast, according to 2019 School Breakfast Report
For students who come from food insecure households, school breakfast can be…
Don’t let payday lenders gut consumer protections from predatory loans
In 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a rule to…
Why Governor Northam’s recent veto of health care bills is a good thing
This month, Governor Northam vetoed several bills relating to short-term limited duration…
Dominion promised $870 million for energy conservation. Now it’s walking back its commitment.
Earlier this year, Dominion Energy committed to $870 million in proposed energy…
Why Increasing TANF Matters
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally funded, cash…
Legislators Choose E-Loan Sharks Over Their Constituents and Legitimate Virginia Lenders
This year, VPLC teamed up with Virginia Consumer Finance Companies and the…
Keep New Funding for Adult Protective Services
Oppose Budget Amendment Item 334 #1s Item 334 #1s removes $100,000 from…
The economy is doing great. So why doesn’t it feel like it?
The media have been arguing about who should get credit for the…
The Costly Price of Long-Term Care
With our population aging and living longer, long-term care is growing increasingly…
Crossover Report | 2019 General Assembly
Tuesday, February 5, 2019, was “Crossover Day” in the General Assembly—the last…
VPLC Receives $90,000 Cy Pres Award from Class Action Settlement Against Predatory Internet Lenders
Early this year, VPLC received a generous cy pres award—a distribution of…
It’s Time to Regulate the Companies That Service Our Student Loans
Student loans make up the nation’s second largest consumer debt market. Over…
Supporting Changes to Improve Foster Care for Virginia’s Children
Learn more about the suite of bills being introduced during the 2019…
What are Forced Arbitration Clauses? And Why are VA Legislators Concerned About Their Use?
Many companies tuck forced arbitration clauses into their terms and conditions. They…
Internet Lenders Want to Pick the Law that Applies to Their Loans in VA
If you live in Virginia and get a loan over the internet,…
Removing Barriers to SNAP for Drug Felons
HB 1891 will repeal the ban on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program…
Helping Virginia Families by Reducing Wrongful Evictions
Virginia’s Eviction Crisis In the Spring of 2018, a study on nationwide…
VPLC Supports Legislation Protecting Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors Who Report Abuse
To intimidate their victims and deter them from seeking help or court…
VPLC Supports Legislation Regulating Line of Credit and Open-end Credit Lenders
Virginia law regulates payday and car title lenders by allowing them to…
Since 1978, we’ve been a source of information on poverty law issues. From new lawyer training to educational outreach to leadership on advocacy issues, we ensure that low-income Virginians’ voices are heard by our legal system.
Through our team and our Legal Aid program partners we help Virginians understand and express their rights in areas such as domestic and sexual violence law, elder law, housing law, family law, public benefits and consumer law.