Dec. 19 Newsletter: What is affordable housing?
Weather: Temperatures are pleasant in the lower 60s, but prepare for wind gusts up to 40 mph and morning showers.
On this date in 1977, City Council requests that the highway running through Richmond continue to be called I-95. The state had proposed transferring the name to a new route circling the city (which was later named I-295).
Amid affordable housing push, homes for the lowest incomes are a tough nut to crack
Public housing was traditionally the primary way to serve the poorest part of the population. But in Richmond today, waitlists for both housing authority-owned units and housing vouchers have thousands of people, and can take years to get off.
- At the same time, the pool of homes in the $100,000 to $200,000 range has dried up: They were just 1.5% of all sales last year.
Nonprofits say it costs between $200,000 and $250,000 to construct an average affordable home, and that's before land costs.
Commonwealth Catholic Charities recently entered the space after hearing that it was one of the community's biggest needs. Read more on how Richmond's nonprofits are tackling the problem, and the associated challenges.
In Richmond, what is ‘affordable’ housing?
Reporter Sarah Vogelsong takes a deeper look at the numbers behind the housing crisis.
- Numbers are calculated regionally, though. Elected officials have long complained that wealthier, more populous counties within the Richmond metro area skew the AMI and put low-income city residents at a disadvantage.
- Research says the salary needed to buy a single-family home is now $122,866, one reason the median age of first-time homebuyers recently hit 40.
Youngkin’s budget doesn’t fund Richmond’s request for water system money
Departing Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s final budget proposal doesn’t include any direct funding for Richmond’s water system, despite Mayor Danny Avula’s request for $80 million.
The mayor requested state assistance to help the city get moving on an estimated $1.4 billion in water system upgrades Richmond intends to make over the next decade. Read more here.
Departing RPS board member will take over embattled district in Southeast Virginia; she was named in a recent investigation
In addition to her Richmond School Board work, Shonda Harris-Muhammed works in a full-time administrative role for Southampton County schools, about an hour southeast of Richmond. Two months ago, she was named in an investigative report critical of the district's leadership.
- Allegations included her suggesting that she and a colleague should share a portion of grant money as an administrative fee.
Last week, she was named acting superintendent in Southampton. Neither Harris-Muhammed nor the district would address the allegations. Read more here.
CAO says Richmond must establish single ‘source of truth’ on city finances
Over his first 100 days at City Hall, Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II has seen a fragmented system for tracking government financial data. Fixing it will be a top priority in 2026, he said.
Donald acknowledged some modernization efforts haven’t gone smoothly. He pointed specifically to RVA Pay, a new online payment portal the city rolled out in 2024 that has come with a frustratingly glitchy experience for many Richmonders trying to use it.
“RVA Pay is an extraordinary innovative system for us to be able to deliver services,” Donald said. “But man that thing ain’t working like we want it to.” Read more here.
Tito's is Virginia's favorite booze for the 8th straight year
Virginia ABC store customers purchased $75 million of Tito’s vodka during fiscal year 2025, making it far and away the state's favorite. More than twice as much Tito's was sold than any other liquor. This is the 8th consecutive year the vodka brand has held the top spot. Read more, and see the top 10, here.
In other news
- Dominion unveils silent generator that uses solar power
- High school basketball: Midlothian boys defeat Clover Hill
- Documents reveal Henrico’s attempt to block Roseshire from selling alcohol (VPM)
The editor's desk
The stat that the median first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old is a wild one. In 1981, the median age was 29.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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