RICHMOND, Va. — You regularly read about issues renters in Central Virginia experience when trying to get a landlord or rental company to fix an issue with their unit to no avail. On Tuesday afternoon, a group of renters and advocates took some of those issues to lawmakers at Virginia’s Capitol.
A rally hosted by Virginia Organizing sought to show the human element behind housing conditions that go unaddressed.
Andrea Jackson works on housing issues for people in Waynesboro and spoke at the rally. She has a reputation in her community.
“I shared the mold story. I’m like the mold person,” Jackson said. “There was one where — I’ve never seen mold grow like this — there was mold growing on the baby high chair. It was just like fast. As soon as they would wipe it down and put the bleach on whatever, it would grow back.”
Because of the power imbalance advocates like Jackson say exists between renters — especially those with lower income — and landlords, she has heard stories from Virginians who struggle to get mold issues addressed swiftly and appropriately.