Richmond, VA — As the U.S. Senate considers a budget proposal that includes historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) warns that Virginia families—especially in rural and low-income communities—could lose essential food assistance and face overwhelming new barriers to access. SNAP is more than food—it’s a critical part […]
Updating Your Credit Report After a Name ChangeSurprise! Virginia outlaws surprise Junk fees on July 1st.
An airline executive testifying before Congress offered this explanation about different prices charged for carry-on luggage: “we want the best people to get the best prices”. What? Who are the best people? Virginia’s new law on these crazy surprise (or junk) fees won’t outlaw these fees but it will require many businesses to disclose what […]
Progress for Public Housing Residents, Manufactured Homeowners, and First-Time BuyersThanks to VPLC’s advocacy, several important housing measures were signed into law during this year’s General Assembly session: More Fairness for Public Housing Tenants Tenants living in public housing now have better protections. Judges are now authorized to allow public housing tenants to appeal their eviction cases without posting a cash bond. Public housing authorities […]
Virginia Enacts New Protections Against Medical Debt and Junk FeesIn a significant move to help those struggling with medical debt, Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed into law (effective July 1, 2026) new legislation aimed at curbing overly aggressive medical debt collection practices. The Medical Debt Protection Act prohibits medical debt collectors from foreclosing on homes and limits the garnishment of wages, offering relief to […]
The Tip Trap: Senate’s New Proposal Could Backfire on WorkersU.S. Senate votes unanimously to end tax on tips—Hallelujah! Well, maybe not. Quick research reveals many reasons why “no tax on tips” will harm more workers than it helps. One of the chief reasons why this is a terrible idea is that “it could encourage harmful employer practices and lead to tip requests in virtually […]
Tenant Town Halls 2025Join VPLC for a Tenant Town Hall this summer. Learn your rights. Share your ideas. We don’t need to tell you: Virginia is in the middle of a housing crisis. Lawmakers, courts, and funders need to do something. But what? VPLC fights for better laws, policies, and funding to improve access to safe and affordable […]