Virginia Poverty Law Center introduces website to aid in Richmond eviction crisis

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A statewide organization has introduced a new tool to help renters in the ongoing eviction crisis happening across Richmond.

The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) rolled out this new resource on Thursday, June 27 and leaders say they hope it will help put people on an even playing field when it comes to understanding the eviction process.

The Eviction Defense Center was created to help renters hold onto their homes in the face of potential eviction.

“Lots of folks lose their housing before it even gets to court,” said Phillip Storey, the Housing Attorney with the Virginia Poverty Law Center and Director of the Eviction Defense Center.  “So, the housing instability is a much bigger problem than just evictions in court.”

Storey said the new center is primarily for individuals who can’t get direct help from their local legal aid program.

“The impact that this could make is huge because 95% of the people who are in this situation aren’t going to get a legal aid lawyer, and won’t have representation in court, and if we can improve the outcome even a little bit for those in Richmond it would have a real difference”, Storey, said.

The goal is to help people avoid getting an eviction case filed against them in court. In 2023, more than 6,000 Richmond families were facing the judiciary process of eviction.

“The numbers are probably going to be up again this year,” Storey said.

The new online center is operating in collaboration with the Richmond Public Library and VPLC attorneys will be on hand on select days to help residents navigate the site.

“Housing is probably, obviously, one of the one of the largest problems in the Richmond area. And I would say on average, that is what I get asked about the most,” said Richmond Public Librarian Charlie Schmidt. “I think, you know, giving empowering people with the knowledge and the tools to fight their own eviction or fight their own fight, so to speak, has a transformative process on them.”

This new resource has been in the works since May 2024.

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