Today, Dr. Danny Avula, candidate for Mayor in the City of Richmond, released a detailed policy paper outlining his plans to ensure the city has quality, affordable housing options available to all of its residents. As one of Dr. Avula’s top priorities, the paper highlights the tested and innovative policies and programs he will champion. The progressive vision includes large-scale investments that he will make as Mayor to ensure that Richmond can meet its housing needs, prioritizing approaches that make sure long-term residents and economically vulnerable residents can continue to call Richmond home.
Dr. Avula noted, “As a longtime public health physician, I know that safe, affordable and reliable housing is one of the most important social determinants of health and a critical foundation of human dignity. In addressing the housing crisis, we need to see the people behind the crisis and what affordable housing means for individuals’ day-to-day lives. I want to live in a Richmond where racial equity and diversity are not just aspirations, but a part of the fabric of how we build communities and in order to make that happen, we must tackle this problem as the moral imperative that it is – with persistence, creativity and real resources.”
The detailed plan can be found here at DannyforMayor.com. The six focus areas in the plan include:
- Investing in expanding the supply of all housing in Richmond for all income levels on a large scale, but with specific emphasis on affordable housing.
- Prioritizing preserving and expanding the supply of deeply affordable housing available to residents with incomes of $50,000 or less.
- Strengthening protections and resources available to our most vulnerable residents to break the cycle of evictions and address the needs of our unhoused population.
- Providing better housing options, more support, and more services for public housing residents.
- Helping low-wage working Richmonders raise their income levels and pursue homeownership.
- Countering the impact of displacement on long-term residents.
This is the third policy paper published by Dr. Avula. You can find his policy paper on education here and his policy paper on an effective, accountable and responsive City Hall here.
