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 […]

Supreme Court Upholds Law That Bans Domestic Abusers From Owning Guns

Richmond, VA June 21, 2024 – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States delivered a ruling in the case of USA vs Rahimi, upholding the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), which prohibits individuals subject to domestic-violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. This case originated in Texas, highlighting the state’s pivotal role in shaping […]

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, battling mold, pest infestations, broken plumbing, and failing heating and cooling systems. When these tenants turn to their local office of housing or court system for help, they are all too often turned away by judges and other officials who want to help […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A win for Virginia consumers

U.S. Supreme Court delivers good news for consumers and fair business practices, but expect more industry pressure on CFPB The Supreme Court today upheld the constitutionality of the funding method Congress chose for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, allowing a vital agency to continue its work in holding Wall Street and predatory lenders to account, […]

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 Poverty Law Center $1 million through her charitable organization, Yield Giving. The grant will help VPLC expand its legal resources and online tools to assist thousands of additional Virginians by providing one-of-a-kind, multi-format, self-help materials. Today’s announcement follows a competitive, nationwide call for […]

OPINION: Dominion Faces the Consequences of its Actions (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Read the Richmond Times Dispatch opinion piece by Albert Pollard, published February 19, 2023 here. If you are unable to reach the linked page, a pdf is below.

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 approximately 555,000 consumers who were subject to illegal practices by internet payday lenders. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2022   Richmond, VA – The federal court in Richmond today gave preliminary approval of a class action settlement that will provide $489 million of 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 Aid Justice Center state that Governor Youngkin’s vetoes of Del. Clark’s HB573 and Sen. Deeds’ SB297 have derailed critical, popular, and thoughtfully crafted bipartisan consumer debt reforms for thousands upon thousands of Virginians. Richmond, VA – Outstanding bills for medical treatment are one […]

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 dental services, prenatal services regardless of immigration status Richmond, Va.— Effective today, Virginia has expanded Medicaid to cover dental benefits for all new and current enrollees as well as added new coverage for pregnant women regardless of their immigration status. The decision to […]

New Coalition Launches to Reform Virginia Energy Policy

For Immediate Release New Coalition Launches to Reform Virginia Energy Policy Lower prices, ratepayer choice, and clean energy unite Virginia Energy Reform Coalition MEDIA CONTACT Cassady Craighill, 828-817-3328, cassady@cleanvirginia.org Cat McCue, 434-953-8672, cat@appvoices.org Peter Vicenzi, (202) 942-7621, pvicenzi@freedomworks.org   Richmond, May 7, 2019 – Nine organizations representing a wide range of public policy ideologies introduced […]

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 Center applauds Governor Northam’s amendment of the state budget to end the automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid court debt. The Governor’s budget amendment is the final step in a multi-year advocacy effort led by Senator Bill Stanley and the Legal Aid […]

Successfully Working Against Housing Discrimination

  Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) and Central Virginia Legal Aid (CVLAS) Successfully Working Against Housing Discrimination The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing throughout the United States on the basis of disability.  One important facet of this protection against discrimination is that the Fair Housing Act can require a landlord to make […]

Susheela Varky with Governor McAuliffe as He Signs Historic Gun Deal that Helps DV Victims

VPLC Staff Attorney Susheela Varky joined Governor McAuliffe along with other advocates while he signed the historic gun legislation that in part significantly helps family Victims of Domestic Violence with up to two year protective orders.  

$15 Million Settlement in a “Tribe for Hire” Scam!

Virginia Poverty Law Center filed a class action lawsuit almost 3 years ago after a man called our hotline about a loan he had received from Western Sky/Cashcall. VPLC’s Board Members Kristi Kelly and Len Bennett took on this case and both spent a lot of time and resources litigating this case. Virginia’s Attorney General’s […]

Nearly 421,900 Virginians purchased coverage; Praise Given to VPLC/ENROLL! Virginia

A big “THANK YOU!” goes to Governor McAuliffe and Secretary Hazel. Their leadership and support of efforts to increase access to affordable health coverage throughout Virginia made it possible to achieve such strong enrollment numbers in the Health Insurance Marketplace. “Having access to health care coverage is critical as we work toward improving the health […]

VPLC Applauds Historic Gun Agreement that Protects Some Domestic Violence Victims

Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) applauds the historic agreement between Governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican and Democratic leaders to, among other things, prohibit a person subject to a Family Abuse Protective Order under Code of Virginia §16.1-279.1 from possessing a firearm. This is a common sense step toward promoting victim safety and holding perpetrators accountable […]

2016 Legislative Agenda

Hot off the Press and ready to view! We invite you to look at the 2016 VPLC Legislative Agenda to see our legislative priorities for this year’s General Assembly session. Each page has details of issues our staff is advocating, what we hope to accomplish and bring awareness around to legislators, and quotations to inspire you […]

2016 Session Preview

Check out a sneak preview of VPLC’s 2016 legislative session priorities. Here is a sample of the main priorities for VPLC during the 2016 session. Consumer Law – Closing the Open-End Credit Loophole Consumer Law – Closing the Car title loan as Consumer Finance Credit Loophole  Elder Law – Providing a Strong Voice for Vulnerable Adults Domestic […]

Press Releases

2016 Press Releases More Low-Income Children Across Virginia Benefiting from School Breakfast, Finds Report from from Virginia Hunger Solutions (3/07/16) 2015 Press Releases Press Release In Birthday Message to CFPB, Virginia Poverty Law Center and Senator Tim Kaine Call for Strong Action against Payday Lending Abuses (7/22/15) 2014 Press Releases New DoD Military Lending Act Rules Will […]

Media Coverage

For media and interview requests, please send inquiries to: Jay Speer, Executive Director T (804) 782-9430 ext. 109  |   F (804) 649-0974   |   E jay@vplc.org The following attorneys are available to speak on specific areas of law: Consumer law, including payday and car title lending issues and foreclosure: Jay Speer, 804.782.9430 x 109, jay@vplc.org […]

Publications & Presentations

Legislative Outcome Reviews 2017 Legislative Review (.pdf) 2016 Legislative Review (.pdf) 2012 Legislative Review (.pdf) 2011 Legislative Review (.pdf)   Legislative Agenda 2017 Legislative Agenda 2015 VPLC Legislative Agenda (.pdf) 2013 VPLC Legislative Agenda (.pdf) 2012 VPLC Legislative Agenda (.pdf) 2011 VPLC Legislative Agenda (.pdf)   Fact Sheets Virginia’s Early Lease Termination Law for Domestic and Sexual Violence […]

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