Flannery O’Rourke has joined VPLC as a Law & Policy Analyst. She will support legislative efforts within our Center for Healthy Communities in the areas of unemployment benefits and social security. She recently received her Juris Doctor degree from University of Richmond. Miranda Huffer is the newest member of the Development team. After a successful […]

The Virginia Poverty Law Center, Consumer Litigation Associates and Kelly Guzzo have filed federal and state lawsuits on behalf of tenants of the Seaview Apartments in Newport News. The lawsuits name Seaview Apartments LLC and Ben Weinstein and his New Jersey-based company Blue Rise Group as defendants. Fifty-eight tenants are prosecuting their claims under the […]

New Team Members Help Break Down Barriers to Justice  RICHMOND, VA – The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) welcomes two new Outreach Coordinators, a new LA VIDA Program Paralegal, a new Communications Director and, a new Office and Finance Manager to the team. Fresh off the heels of landmark wins against the Virginia Employment Commission […]

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 […]

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 […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2021 The suite of new laws will protect tenants, help families with food assistance, expand health coverage, protect consumers, and more. Richmond, VA – Effective today, several new laws in the Commonwealth will benefit hundreds of thousands of low-income Virginians. The new laws include better protections for tenants, expansion of […]

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 […]

The Jill A. Hanken Scholarship Fund will honor Hanken’s accomplishments and build upon her legacy by training health law advocates in Virginia’s legal aid community. RICHMOND, VA – After a long and storied career of public service, advocacy, and leadership in healthcare for low-income Virginians, Jill Hanken, Health Attorney and Director of the Center for […]

Judge Orders Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to End Unemployment Insurance Backlog and Fix Issues at the Agency    Legal Aid groups and their Pro Bono Partners will monitor the VEC’s progress to ensure Virginians who have been struggling, often for months, get access to the relief they are owed    Richmond, VA – Today, Judge Henry […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date:  May 13, 2021 Thousands of Virginians are enrolling in health coverage through the ACA because of the American Rescue Plan More than 24,000 Virginians have selected new health coverage plans since the current special enrollment period began   Richmond, Va.— Virginians are enrolling in health coverage through the Affordable Care Act […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: April 22, 2021 USDA announces free lunches for all students through 2021-22 school year The extension will bring relief to millions of food-insecure families. RICHMOND, VA – The United States Department of Agriculture has extended universal free lunch for all students through the next school year, bringing relief to millions of […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: April 1, 2021 Contact: William Lineberry, Marketing & Communications Manager Enroll Virginia 804-366-3531 or [email protected] Virginia Ends 10-Year Work History Requirement for Medicaid Thousands from Virginia’s Immigrant Communities are Now Eligible for Coverage Richmond, Va.–Virginia has ended its 10-year (40 quarter) work history requirement for Medicaid, making thousands of individuals in […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date:  February 11, 2021 Enroll Virginia to Host Virtual Town Hall, Press Conference to Discuss the ACA Marketplace Reopening  Leaders from the state and federal levels will share their thoughts on why this new health insurance enrollment opportunity is coming at a critical time for Virginians Richmond, Va.—Enroll Virginia, a statewide health […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2021 President Biden Reopens ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for New Open Enrollment Period New Open Enrollment period aimed at providing relief to those who have lost coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic RICHMOND, Va.- President Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday to reopen the Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2020 Enroll Virginia Encourages Virginians to Sign Up for Health Coverage Before Dec. 15 Deadline More than 108,000 Virginians have already enrolled during this Open Enrollment cycle; free, unbiased assistance is available through Enroll Virginia RICHMOND, Va.- Virginians seeking health coverage still have time to find a plan and enroll […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 30, 2020 Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends Tuesday, December 15 —meaning that Virginians who do not renew or sign up for coverage for the first time before December 15 could have to wait up to another year for health coverage. Enroll Virginia, a nonpartisan, community-based organization, has a […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2019 CONTACT: Dana Wiggins, VPLC Director of Outreach and Consumer Advocacy, [email protected] Monica Lauw, VPLC Communications Manager, [email protected] VIRGINIA COALITION PUSHES CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU TO KEEP CONSUMER PROTECTION RULES IN PLACE FOR LENDERS “I took out my first loan around three years ago when my husband got sick and […]

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, [email protected] Cat McCue, 434-953-8672, [email protected] Peter Vicenzi, (202) 942-7621, [email protected]   Richmond, May 7, 2019 – Nine organizations representing a wide range of public policy ideologies introduced […]

CONTACT: Christie Marra [email protected] (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 […]

To intimidate their victims and deter them from seeking help or court protection, abusers sometimes use the justice system as a weapon by filing lawsuits alleging defamation and other wrongdoing by the victims. Such lawsuits are called “strategic lawsuits against public participation”— or SLAPP suits — and are filed because the abuser believes that the […]

  Virginia Hunger Solutions (VHS), a project of the Virginia Poverty Law Center in conjunction with the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), debuted their first Annual School Breakfast Report: Food for Thought. The report highlights the marked improvement in implementing Breakfast in the Classroom and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), across the state of […]