Mayor Danny Avula, City leaders, and community partners announce Anti-Displacement Week: More Ways to Stay
Week-long initiative highlighting programs, resources, and partnerships that help Richmonders stay in their homes and communities begins on Monday, June 8
Mayor Danny Avula, the City of Richmond, Richmond City Councilmember Ellen Robertson, and community partners have announced Richmond’s Anti-Displacement Week, a week-long series of events and educational opportunities beginning Monday, June 8, 2026. Anti-Displacement Week focuses on more ways for Richmonders to stay in their homes and communities as the city continues to grow.
Anti-Displacement Week will highlight local programs, resources, and partnerships that are designed to prevent displacement, increase housing stability, and ensure that Richmond’s growth benefits longtime residents. Displacement generally refers to the involuntary loss of housing or the need to leave a neighborhood or community.
“Our goal is simple: more homes for more people and more ways for Richmonders to stay in the communities they love,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “Anti-Displacement Week shines a spotlight on the incredible work our community partners are doing every day to help residents remain in safe and stable housing. This week is an opportunity to connect Richmonders with the resources, programs, and people working to keep our neighborhoods strong and inclusive.”
Richmond City Councilmember Ellen Robertson underscored the importance of anti-displacement efforts. “Anti-Displacement Week is vital for both longtime residents and newcomers. As Richmond grows, we must ensure that everyone has the opportunity to stay rooted, to thrive, and to benefit from the city’s progress. That’s why I raised concerns about displacement early on, and partnered with Housing Opportunities Made Equal of VA on a displacement study and later patroned Resolution 2025-R043 directing the administration to inventory existing anti-displacement programs and services. Understanding the scope of the challenge is essential to developing effective solutions, and I’m proud to support initiatives like Anti-Displacement Week that keep this issue at the forefront of our work,” said Councilmember Robertson.
Anti-Displacement Week builds upon Councilmember Robertson’s Resolution 2025-R043 and the City’s subsequently released report, An Inventory of Programs and Initiatives that Mitigate the Displacement of Residents, prepared by the Department of Housing and Community Development and released in March 2026. The report catalogs the City’s existing anti-displacement strategies and programs to help residents remain housed and connected to their communities. The Program Inventory is divided into four sections:
- Housing Stability for All Richmonders
- Utilities and Billing Assistance
- Assistance for Homeowners, and
- Community Development
“The Anti-Displacement Report makes clear that while the City has invested substantial financial and human resources into critical anti-displacement efforts, those programs have not always been coordinated or fully utilized by the residents they are meant to support,” said Merrick Malone, Director, Housing and Community Development. “These findings give us an urgent mandate to streamline and realign our work so we can deploy resources more effectively, strengthen protections for vulnerable households, and deliver on the Administration’s commitment to keeping Richmonders in their homes.”
Anti-Displacement Week Events
In-Person Tax Relief Support Sessions Hosted by the City's Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS)
The City of Richmond’s Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) is dedicated to supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities so they can live as independently, safely, and fully as possible in the Richmond community. The office provides information and referral assistance and care coordination to community-based services that allow people to age in place, and access to supports for those with disabilities, caregivers, and their families. OADS achieves this by partnering with various organizations to enhance the well-being of Richmond's residents.
Throughout Anti-Displacement Week, the City’s Office of Aging and Disability Services will provide information and direct assistance to older adults and people with disabilities who may be at heightened risk of displacement. At the following community events, OADS staff will offer onsite support, including tax relief applications and guidance on how to apply.
Community members are invited to attend these free events. Registration is not required.
Tuesday, June 9, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
AARP Richmond North Chapter Meeting
Pine Camp Cultural Arts & Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Road
Wednesday, June 10, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Richmond City TRIAD Meeting
Ebenezer Baptist Church, 216 West Leigh St.
Thursday, June 11, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
The City of Richmond’s Aging and Disability Advisory Board Meeting
Office of Aging and Disability Services; 7945 Forest Hill Avenue, Building 26 (adjacent to Huguenot High School)
For more information on these events contact OADS at (804) 646-1082 or oads@rva.gov.
Homes for All Our Neighbors Workshops and Community Programs
Anti-Displacement Week also features workshops and trainings to support renters who may be facing housing instability, and share information about what displacement is, who is impacted, and what we can do to prevent it.
“Eviction and rising rents are pushing Richmonders out of their homes, and tenants are often the last to know what protections they actually have. Know-your-rights trainings change that. When renters understand the law, they can challenge unsafe conditions and defend themselves against eviction,” said Laura Dobbs, Director of Policy at Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME of VA). “Put simply, it's the difference between losing and keeping a home. In a tight rental market where the advantage is heavily tilted toward landlords, knowledge is one of the most powerful anti-displacement tools tenants have.”
Members of the public are invited to the following events:
Wednesday, June 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Conozca Sus Derechos: Spanish-Language Tenants’ Rights Workshop (TRW)
For information on location and registration, contact Annika Schunn: aschunn@homeofva.org
Thursday, June 11, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Community Conversation: Preventing Displacement
Studio Two Three, 109 W 15th St, Richmond, VA 23224
Friday, June 12, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Training: Tenants’ Rights for Organizers and Advocates
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/stxEkhQiQfOIKSDtBhJEEw
Visit homesforallourneighbors.org/calendar to learn more and register.
Help for Richmonders: Legal Resources, Eviction Protection, and Utilities Assistance
- Richmonders who are facing eviction can apply for assistance from the City-funded Eviction Diversion program
- Richmonders who may need legal assistance for a housing matter can apply for assistance from the City-funded Right to Counsel program
- Richmonders who would like to enter a payment plan for past-due utility balances can find assistance by visiting DPU partnership with PromisePay
About Richmond Anti-Displacement Week
Richmond Anti-Displacement Week is a collaborative initiative led by the City of Richmond in partnership with community organizations and housing advocates. The week is dedicated to raising awareness, connecting residents to resources, and supporting housing stability for Richmonders.
