City leaders, groups propose housing crisis solutions

By George Copeland Jr.

Following months of rising rent costs, a high number of evictions and growing housing scarcity, Richmond officials have declared that the city is in an affordable housing crisis.

City leaders made this issue official with a resolution passed during last week’s Richmond City Council meeting, followed the next day with a press conference during which Mayor Levar M. Stoney and council members outlined the details to address the crisis.

Potential solutions the city has developed so far include rewriting the city’s zoning ordinance to increase housing density, financial assistance for city employees who are first-time home buyers, and a taxable bond program that would allocate $50 million across the next five years, with bonds

Autopsy finds cause of death for Irvo Otieno was asphyxia

By Sarah Rankin The Associated Press

Irvo Otieno, a 28-yearold Black man whose death last month at a Virginia mental hospital has sparked outrage and led to second degree murder charges against 10 defendants, died of issued by the city in the form of loans.

City officials also hope the declaration and initial plan will bring experts from nonprofits, the private sector and philanthropic groups to the table to provide ideas and methods to increase the city’s available affordable housing.

“It’s a call to action,” Mayor Stoney said. “We need all hands on deck. We’re going to throw the entire kitchen sink at the crisis.”

The new plan was unveiled amid an increase in evictions in the city, a shortage of over 23,000 housing units, and as housing costs account for more than 30 percent of the average median income in the Metro Richmond area. The plan also was outlined as national figures and local groups offered their own support and ideas to

Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

For example, with council’s backing, the mayor has ignored a 2020 ordinance requiring general fund dollars to be used for affordable housing.

The result has been to strip a total of $6.1 million from the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) that provides last-dollar financing for affordable housing developments, according to city budget documents.

In addition, with council’s support, the mayor instead plans to have the city borrow $10 million a year in each of the next five years for affordable housing.

The $50 million to be raised by selling taxable bonds over the five-year period, is projected to cost $138 million to repay, including $88 million in interest, according to Lincoln Saunders, the city’s chief administrative officer.

In other words, the city plans to spend $1.76 in interest for

Grief

Death can be confusing for young children who may not grasp the sudden absence of a loved one or comprehend the tears of an older child or adult. In Richmond, the faces of too many children resemble, on a daily basis, that of this youngster who attended the March 23 prayer vigil for Binford Middle School student Marquan “Quan” Mitchell-Nash, 13. Marquan was accidentally shot and killed by a relative on March 10. The vigil at the corners of 17th and Stockton streets on Richmond’s South Side was organized by United Citizens Against Crime. It drew dozens of Marquan’s family members, friends, classmates, teachers and Richmond Public Schools officials. Recognizing the deep sadness brought on by Marquan’s death, Charles Willis of UCAC, shared comforting reflections of the youngster’s brief life. “Marquan was a very happy young man, a loving son, a protector, a provider, was loved by his friends and community,” Mr. Willis said. “He loved playing football and playing jokes on friends.” More photos on B3.