Understanding Evictions in Richmond City: Policy, Community, and Individual Factors

Overview:

Richmond City has the highest eviction rate in Virginia and is in the top 10 in the country. More than one out of four of the 221,000 Richmond City residents are poor and many are evicted on a recurring basis. The coronavirus has exacerbated their problems. City of Richmond Treasurer's Office Financial Education Center and the Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation’s (SCDHC) Financial Opportunity Center help families become financially literate, develop spending plans, and learn how to access and manage credit. Richmond City’s Cooperative Extensions agent and Virginia Tech researchers are using data provided by the city combined with state and federal sources of data to improve their understanding of who the city is serving, including their spending habits and whether they have enough resources to manage. The team is creating data-driven insights with the goal to improve the financial and housing stability of these families and the city.