The Tip Trap: Senate’s New Proposal Could Backfire on Workers

U.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 […]

Foster Care Month: Listening to Those Who’ve Lived It

“Being heard—and seeing change happen—is something every foster youth deserves.” May is National Foster Care Month—a time to recognize the resilience of children and youth who have experienced foster care, and to commit to reforming a system that too often causes harm instead of healing. Foster care should be a last resort, used only when […]

During Foster Care Month, VPLC Urges Fourth Circuit to Preserve Federal Oversight in Youth Rights Case

Amicus brief emphasizes critical role of federal courts in protecting rights of youth in state custody  RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) joins the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and more than 30 civil rights organizations in urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to preserve the federal judiciary’s […]

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 Russell Vought to challenge the unlawful dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The lawsuit, filed February 13, 2025, also includes the National Treasury Employees Union, National Consumer Law Center, NAACP, and the CFPB Employee Association. The next day (2.14.2025), at the […]

Federal legislation aims to keep families together

By Valerie L’Herrou. Published in The Virginian-Pilot: February 7, 2025 (subscription required) Imagine you’re a low-income parent, faced with the impossible choice of paying for food or the gas to get to work. Or one day, your child care provider doesn’t show up, leaving you to decide between leaving your children with an older sibling […]

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 amended by the House of Delegates, will be before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee Monday, February 10, 2025 in the afternoon. It is not the savior bill for APCo customers as it is being touted to be. There are no “immediate” savings […]

Bank Fees Sent Him into a Debt Spiral

Thursday, February 6th, 2025 For Carlos Wimberly, the whole mess started at a convenience store when he stopped for a bottle of water and snacks. He thought he had $35 in his banking account, but he had miscalculated and had “insufficient funds” to make his purchase. Carlos says he understood why his bank charged him […]

Paycheck to No Check: How Excessive Debt Collection Disrupts Lives

Tanya Webb is one of thousands of Virginians whose lives have been upended by tax or debt collectors who seized all of their wages or emptied their bank accounts. Tanya Webb was stunned when her entire paycheck vanished without warning. Two weeks later, another half was gone without any notice again. The wage garnishment was […]

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy of Global Justice and Peace

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a transformative leader whose legacy continues to inspire individuals and organizations committed to justice, equality, and the fight against systemic oppression. With tireless dedication to nonviolence and a firm commitment to creating a more just society, his influence resonates with individuals and communities around the globe. As we reflect […]

VA’s Lawmakers Can Improve the Legal Process for Collecting Debt

This session of Virginia’s General Assembly brings opportunities for lawmakers to pave a path to resolution for the 139,703 Virginians being sued over consumer debt in 2023 alone. In fact, about 20% of Virginians have overdue credit lines or unpaid bills that creditors are trying to collect.  VPLC urges lawmakers to consider effective and equitable […]

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 inflation, high credit card interest rates, an ever-growing cascade of junk fees, and record-breaking consumer debt, a new report finds that Virginia is leaving these families high and dry. The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) report, No Fresh Start 2024: Will States Protect […]

Ward Scull: Honoring a Legendary Advocate for Fair Lending

by Jay Speer, VPLC Executive Director I have been thinking a lot about Ward Scull who died recently.  Ward was a long-time ally of VPLC in our multi-year legislative fight with Virginia’s payday lenders.  VPLC advocated for just and fair lending, but the payday lenders wanted to continue making huge sums of money exploiting Virginians […]

VPLC Elevates DEI Amid Political Division

— By Louis Green, VPLC It is no secret that the upcoming political election has unearthed age-old debates across the sociopolitical landscape. In addition to the usual list of hotly-debated issues within the political space, contemporary elections have been split along racial lines due to arguments on how federal and state institutions should handle matters […]

Now Hiring: Economic Justice Attorney

July 23, 2024 About Us: Virginia Poverty Law Center is a legal services organization dedicated to using advocacy, education and litigation to break down the systemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in poverty. Duties & Responsibilities This attorney’s work will focus on consumer rights of low-income Virginians including fair debt collection, fair credit reporting, and […]

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 program comparable to existing commercial software. While the pilot was limited to people with simple tax returns in a handful of states, the Department of the Treasury estimated that one-third of taxpayers in those states — almost 19 million people — were eligible […]

A win for transparency: ‘earned wage’ paycheck advance products are consumer loans

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed an interpretive rule explaining that many paycheck advance products, sometimes marketed as “earned wage” products, are consumer loans subject to the Truth in Lending Act. The guidance will ensure that lenders understand their legal obligations to disclose the costs and fees of these credit products to workers. […]

Welcome Naomi Y. Cordova

Naomi Y. Cordova joins the VPLC team as the new Legal Assistant for the Legal Assistance to Victim-Immigrants of Domestic Abuse (LA VIDA) program. Naomi brings a wealth of experience in immigration law and a diverse skill set to VPLC. Naomi has a robust legal background, with many years of client communication, legal documentation, translation, […]

Beware the Loan Sharks Still Circling for Consumers

Shark Week 2024: Be Careful Where You Borrow By Jay Speer, Virginia Poverty Law Center Executive Director Welcome to Shark Week 2024, at least according to the annual designation fronm Discovery Channel   In years past, the Virginia Poverty Law Center has used this week to call out all the loan sharks attacking Virginia borrowers.  There […]

New Rules for Utilities & Customer Shut-Offs

Utility providers cannot shut off your service for unpaid bills during certain unsafe periods.

New Law Protects Virginians Against Utility Shut-Offs During Extreme Heat

As heat waves roll through Virginia, a new law to protect residents from unsafe utility shut-offs during periods of extreme weather goes into effect on July 1. Sen. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) and Del. Irene Shin (D-Herndon) introduced a pair of bills to the General Assembly in January. The bills gained bipartisan support and were signed […]

Partnership to Help Richmond Renters Facing Eviction

 Richmond, Va, June 27, 2024 – The Richmond Public Library (RPL) and Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) today launched a new partnership to help renters facing potential eviction. The program will provide guided assistance using VPLC’s new online Eviction Defense Center to answer users’ questions and help prepare them for court. Patrons often ask librarians […]

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