Help Virginia Cities Tackle Housing Crises: Here’s What You Can Do

I’m writing as a constituent deeply concerned about my city’s growing affordable housing crisis. Rising rents, limited affordable units, and displacement are threatening the fabric of our community, and we need your help to turn things around. Local leaders are doing their best, but state law limits what cities in Virginia can do. To support meaningful progress, here are concrete actions you can take now: 1 Expand local authority to require Inclusionary Zoning. Allow cities to mandate affordable units in new developments, ensuring growth benefits everyone, not just investors. 2 Enable stronger tenant protections. Lift state restrictions so localities can implement rent stabilization and eviction prevention programs to keep people in their homes. 3 Increase state funding for affordable housing. More dedicated resources will help local governments and nonprofits build and preserve affordable units where they’re needed most. 4 Support community land trusts and zoning reform. These tools can prevent displacement and encourage “missing middle” housing that fits our city’s character and needs. These are not radical ideas. They’re proven solutions other cities have successfully used to balance growth with equity. For example, Montgomery County, MD, and Burlington, VT, have made strides with policies like Inclusionary Zoning and community land trusts. Meanwhile, Portland, OR, has strengthened tenant protections that have helped curb displacement. Virginia’s cities deserve the same tools and resources to protect their residents and build a more just, sustainable future. Your leadership at the state level is critical to making this happen. Please prioritize these steps in the upcoming legislative sessions. Our community is counting on you. Thank you for your time and service