BLACKSBURG — A group of protesters gathered Friday, demanding measures to guarantee affordable housing, citing both statewide initiatives and a push in Montgomery County in particular.
The protest focused on several affordable housing bills that have passed the Virginia General Assembly, including House Bill 73, which would allow dismissed eviction actions to be expunged from tenants’ records.
The protest was organized by the New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing, The organization holds protests for several other issues, such as abortion rights and affordable health care.
Jocelyn Hildebrand, a Blacksburg resident, artist and a member of the group, gave a speech during the rally outlining what the group hopes to see happen.
“Governor Youngkin has vetoed bills like these before,” Hildebrand said. “So we’re here to get him to sign, and to make sure they pass.”
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Additionally, Hildebrand mentioned that the organization has been pushing to get the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to draft and enact “whole home repair” legislation, allowing tenants and owners of inadequate housing to have repairs performed for free, or at reduced cost.
Brandy Faulkner, another Blacksburg resident and member of Virginia Organizing, said that the local push was central to the work the organization does.
“We have to fight for those who are right here, among us, living in substandard housing,” Faulkner said.
Housing has been a major issue in Blacksburg, where Virginia Tech’s ongoing student population growth has led to a shortage of available housing, and higher prices for buyers and renters.
One of the items on the Blacksburg Town Council’s legislative agenda was sponsorship of legislation related to housing. One of those, House Bill 721, an anti-rent gouging bill, is scheduled to be reconsidered during the 2025 legislative session.
Liam Watson, the only town council member who rents a property in Blacksburg, and who pushed the council to add the bills to their legislative agenda, voiced his support for the protesters.
“If I knew it was happening, I would’ve joined them out there,” Watson said.
About 15 people were present for the rally, which was held at the intersection of Country Club Drive and South Main Street in Blacksburg near the Kroger store. During the protest, each member stopped to make a phone call to Youngkin’s office. The protestors were given a script, in which they would request that Youngkin sign House Bills 73, 442, 598, 817, 993 and 1251.
Phyllis Albritton, the oldest of the protesters present at age 86, and a longtime activist, spoke about the necessity for affordable housing and tenant protections.
“If the poorest countries in our hemisphere, Cuba and Nicaragua, can provide this for their people, and most of Europe can, then surely we in the U.S. can do something,” Albritton said.