Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center
Friday, March 19th, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2021 Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) stands in solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in light of the tragic shooting that occurred in Atlanta, GA, Tuesday night. We mourn the loss of these victims and send condolences to their loved ones. We are outraged over the rise […]
2021 Legislative Review
Friday, March 5th, 2021
The 2021 General Assembly session officially ended Monday, with all the bills and budget amendments passed now on the Governor’s desk waiting to be signed into law. The Governor has until March 31, 2021 to sign, amend, or veto a bill. If he signs a bill, it becomes law on July 1, 2021 (or later […]
General Assembly Session Update: Special Session Winds Down
Sunday, February 21st, 2021
Many people are getting the vaccine, and there is hope that we may see this pandemic winding down. The General Assembly special session is also winding down, and there is hope that many of our initiatives will be enacted into law. Below, a more detailed update on some of the issues we’re working on. Housing […]
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Halfway Through
Monday, February 15th, 2021
Dear fellow housing advocates, We are roughly halfway through the 2021 regular legislative session and have made great progress advancing tenants’ rights in Virginia! All but one of the bills we are supporting this session have passed in both chambers! On Wednesday afternoon, February 17, the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee will consider Delegate Price’s bill (HB1889) […]
General Assembly Session Update: Special Session in Full Swing, All Eyes on Budget Amendments
Sunday, February 14th, 2021
The 2021 General Assembly session has ended, but by order of the Governor, the 2021 General Assembly Special Session began Wednesday. The Special Session is expected to last two to three weeks. Both the House and the Senate approved the Governor’s proposed budget but with many amendments. It is expected that the House will reject […]
PRESS RELEASE: Enroll Virginia to Host Virtual Town Hall, Press Conference to Discuss the ACA Marketplace Reopening
Thursday, February 11th, 2021
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 […]
2021 Crossover Update
Monday, February 8th, 2021
Last Friday was “Crossover Day” in the General Assembly, the last day for bills to be heard in the Senate or House of Delegates before crossing over to the other chamber for review. Check out our 2021 Crossover Update to learn more about the progress of our legislative priorities for this session.
General Assembly Session Update: Recap on Week 3
Sunday, January 31st, 2021
While much of our work at the General Assembly is not making the headlines, we are quietly having success (so far) with our initiatives to create a more just and equitable Virginia. Housing Our housing bills are all about preventing evictions. Many of our initiatives are supported by landlords because avoiding eviction also often leads […]
PRESS RELEASE: President Biden Reopens ACA Health Insurance Marketplace for New Open Enrollment Period
Thursday, January 28th, 2021
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 […]
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Week Three
Wednesday, January 27th, 2021
Welcome to the third week of the 2021 legislative session. We have bills up this week that need your support! Dear fellow housing advocates, The 2021 Virginia legislative session is in its third week now. We have made great progress on tenants’ rights in this short session and have more to go! With the help […]
General Assembly Session Update: One Full Week Down
Sunday, January 24th, 2021
The 2021 General Assembly completed its first full week, and this virtual session is running smoothly thanks to the General Assembly staff and the cooperation of legislators and their staff. But it’s not the same as an in-person session. It’s very difficult for VPLC advocates to talk with legislators and their staff when everything must […]
Housing Advocacy Session Update: Week Two
Wednesday, January 20th, 2021
Welcome to the second week of the 2021 legislative session. We have bills up this week that need your support! Dear fellow housing advocates, Welcome to the second week of the 2021 legislative session! Thank you to everyone who signed up and spoke in support of tenants’ rights legislation last week. We are happy to […]
Update from the Executive Director: Continuing the Fight for Economic Justice for All
Sunday, January 17th, 2021
The Virginia General Assembly is off and running. This is the 402nd year the General Assembly has met, and it promises to be like no other thanks to the continuing pandemic. The House of Delegates is meeting virtually, and the Virginia Senate is meeting both in-person and virtually. As always, VPLC has an important legislative […]
Update from VPLC’s Housing Advocacy Team: Support Tenants’ Rights During 2021 Session
Wednesday, January 13th, 2021
2021 legislative session starts today. Join us in supporting policies that improve rights and opportunities for tenants. Dear fellow housing advocates, It’s the first day of the 2021 legislative session, and we’re excited to continue our advocacy to defend, preserve, and enhance opportunities for low-income Virginians! We hope you will join us this session in support […]
Join Us! Happy Hour or Coffee & Chat with VPLC: 2021 Legislative Priorities
Wednesday, January 6th, 2021
The Virginia General Assembly will convene on January 13, 2021. Join VPLC for a virtual happy hour or your morning coffee as we discuss our legislative priorities for the 2021 General Assembly session! Each event will last 30 minutes—we’ll briefly review our agenda and save plenty of time to answer questions. We hope to see you there! Register for Happy […]
PRESS RELEASE: Enroll Virginia Encourages Virginians to Sign Up for Health Coverage Before Dec. 15 Deadline
Friday, December 11th, 2020
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 […]
PRESS RELEASE: Open Enrollment Ends December 15
Tuesday, December 1st, 2020
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 […]
PRESS RELEASE: VPLC Receives $750,000 Donation from Amazon to Help More Families Facing Eviction Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Monday, November 16th, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 16, 2020 Virginia Poverty Law Center Receives $750,000 Donation from Amazon to Help More Families Facing Eviction Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Funding part of Amazon’s $3 million donation to increase staff and resources at Virginia Poverty Law Center and three additional legal service providers across the Washington, D.C. metro region to […]
VPLC STATEMENT: On Governor Northam’s Announcement of Additional Funding for Rent and Mortgage Relief
Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, October 7, 2020 STATEMENT OF VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER On Governor Northam’s Announcement of Additional Funding for Rent and Mortgage Relief RICHMOND, VA – We are pleased that Governor Northam has allotted an additional $12 million into the Rent and Mortgage Relief fund, but more must be done to help the […]
STATEMENT: On House and Senate Budget Language Regarding the Eviction Moratorium
Friday, September 25th, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, September 25, 2020 STATEMENT OF VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER On House and Senate Budget Language Regarding the Eviction Moratorium RICHMOND, VA – We are very disappointed in the language related to evictions in both the House and Senate budgets. The language doesn’t stop landlords from evicting people in the midst of […]
PRESS RELEASE: Virginia Poverty Law Center releases new SNAP eligibility calculator
Wednesday, September 16th, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Virginia Poverty Law Center releases new SNAP eligibility calculator The mobile-friendly calculator shows a person’s eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and an estimate of benefits they could receive. RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) has released a new SNAP eligibility calculator that […]