Some of the volunteers who canvassed Mosby Court for RRHA last weekend. (Photos by Ianne Salvosa)
Volunteers in bright yellow shirts strolled door to door in Mosby Court last Saturday.
The 458-unit public housing development was the focus for the morning of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which is trying to give a fresh start to public housing residents who have fallen behind on their rent.
Throughout July and August, RRHA officials and volunteers are knocking on each door in each of the city’s public housing developments to promote its “last-chance repayment agreement.” The repayment plan is a limited-time offer that allows residents to set up an agreement at their respective management offices to pay back any late charges and avoid eviction.
The effort is the second wave of the RRHA’s Compassion Action Initiative, a lease enforcement program geared toward residents who owe at least $51 or have missed prior repayments. Residents in the program agree to pay a down payment of $10 to $100, based on their adjusted monthly income, a repayment of up to 10% of their income and a rent payment of up to 30% of their income.
The first wave of the initiative took place in early July with property managers placing last-chance repayment plan flyers on every unit in the housing developments.
About 50 of the repayment agreements have been signed so far. The last day to sign an agreement is Aug. 30.
Total unpaid charges range from roughly $800 in smaller communities like Blackwell Senior Cottages to $1.23 million in larger developments such as Gilpin Court. The 13 public housing communities have $3.6 million unpaid charges combined.
CEO Steven Nesmith canvassed Mosby Court on Saturday alongside other RRHA, staff including Charles Williams, assistant vice president of asset management, and Pamela Kearney, zone manager for operations.
From left: RRHA’s Charles Williams, Steven Nesmith and Pamela Kearney.
Nesmith said the authority aims to make contact with each of the 3,200 units in the city three times by the end of August. There are 2,007 residents with outstanding balances.
Residents and City Council members have long criticized the RRHA for rent calculation errors and lack of sustainability of their previous repayment plans, which has led to evictions.
Nesmith said if residents get to a point where they may face eviction, RRHA works with the city to find housing for them.
“We’re not the last resort of housing,” Nesmith said.
A breakdown of the unpaid rent at each of RRHA’s public housing properties.
City Council members Cynthia Newbille and Ellen Robertson also helped canvass the communities, as did residents. Alicia Venable, CEO and director of Venable Community Services, helped promote the Compassion Action Initiative with her grandchildren by her side.
Venable said she is working to get a van so she can transport elderly and disabled residents to the property management offices to sign up for repayment agreements.
“I got a neighbor that’s a senior but she can’t come out. So how do we help those?” Venable said. “So I knock on the door and I advocate for them like I’m doing today.”
Nesmith said throughout August, RRHA will make a final push to get residents to sign up for repayment agreements. The authority will incentivize residents to visit their management offices with food and music.
“This is a celebration of a fresh start,” Nesmith said.
Residents who owe money to the RRHA and do not sign up for a repayment plan will be subject to lease enforcement protocols including a 30-day late rent notice, summon for unlawful detainer, court proceeding and notice to vacate if lack of payment persists.
RRHA issued 4,285 late notices across its public housing communities from January to March this year. The authority also filed 158 unlawful detainers and 158 lease enforcement proceedings this year before the start of the Compassion Action Initiative.
Some of the volunteers who canvassed Mosby Court for RRHA last weekend. (Photos by Ianne Salvosa)
Volunteers in bright yellow shirts strolled door to door in Mosby Court last Saturday.
The 458-unit public housing development was the focus for the morning of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which is trying to give a fresh start to public housing residents who have fallen behind on their rent.
Throughout July and August, RRHA officials and volunteers are knocking on each door in each of the city’s public housing developments to promote its “last-chance repayment agreement.” The repayment plan is a limited-time offer that allows residents to set up an agreement at their respective management offices to pay back any late charges and avoid eviction.
The effort is the second wave of the RRHA’s Compassion Action Initiative, a lease enforcement program geared toward residents who owe at least $51 or have missed prior repayments. Residents in the program agree to pay a down payment of $10 to $100, based on their adjusted monthly income, a repayment of up to 10% of their income and a rent payment of up to 30% of their income.
The first wave of the initiative took place in early July with property managers placing last-chance repayment plan flyers on every unit in the housing developments.
About 50 of the repayment agreements have been signed so far. The last day to sign an agreement is Aug. 30.
Total unpaid charges range from roughly $800 in smaller communities like Blackwell Senior Cottages to $1.23 million in larger developments such as Gilpin Court. The 13 public housing communities have $3.6 million unpaid charges combined.
CEO Steven Nesmith canvassed Mosby Court on Saturday alongside other RRHA, staff including Charles Williams, assistant vice president of asset management, and Pamela Kearney, zone manager for operations.
From left: RRHA’s Charles Williams, Steven Nesmith and Pamela Kearney.
Nesmith said the authority aims to make contact with each of the 3,200 units in the city three times by the end of August. There are 2,007 residents with outstanding balances.
Residents and City Council members have long criticized the RRHA for rent calculation errors and lack of sustainability of their previous repayment plans, which has led to evictions.
Nesmith said if residents get to a point where they may face eviction, RRHA works with the city to find housing for them.
“We’re not the last resort of housing,” Nesmith said.
A breakdown of the unpaid rent at each of RRHA’s public housing properties.
City Council members Cynthia Newbille and Ellen Robertson also helped canvass the communities, as did residents. Alicia Venable, CEO and director of Venable Community Services, helped promote the Compassion Action Initiative with her grandchildren by her side.
Venable said she is working to get a van so she can transport elderly and disabled residents to the property management offices to sign up for repayment agreements.
“I got a neighbor that’s a senior but she can’t come out. So how do we help those?” Venable said. “So I knock on the door and I advocate for them like I’m doing today.”
Nesmith said throughout August, RRHA will make a final push to get residents to sign up for repayment agreements. The authority will incentivize residents to visit their management offices with food and music.
“This is a celebration of a fresh start,” Nesmith said.
Residents who owe money to the RRHA and do not sign up for a repayment plan will be subject to lease enforcement protocols including a 30-day late rent notice, summon for unlawful detainer, court proceeding and notice to vacate if lack of payment persists.
RRHA issued 4,285 late notices across its public housing communities from January to March this year. The authority also filed 158 unlawful detainers and 158 lease enforcement proceedings this year before the start of the Compassion Action Initiative.