Housing Opportunities Made Equal Of Virginia Inc

HOMEs Fair Housing Advocacy program advocates passionately for justice in housing. We protect and advance the rights of individuals and communities facing present-day housing discrimination or the impacts of historic discrimination through administrative complaints, litigation, public education, and public policy. In FY2024-2025, HOME provided fair housing services to more than 260 individuals, conducted nearly 100 fair housing education and outreach workshops to various groups around the state, and filed 19 lawsuits/complaints on behalf of discrimination victims. Additionally, seven housing-related complaints were referred to outside attorneys for assistance. One case of note involves Peggy Bauckman and her sister-in-law, Pat Jaco. When Peggys mobility declined, she asked her Charlottesville landlord for reasonable accommodations like accessible parking. He refused - and evicted her for being a nuisance. Peggys sister-in-law, Pat Jaco, took her in. But Pats inaccessible house meant Peggy had to sleep in an armchair and use a portable toilet. Though Peggy eventually found accessible housing, the trauma lingered; Pat often found her crying alone. Ten months after the unlawful eviction, Peggy passed away. After the Virginia Fair Housing Office found that Peggys landlord had violated the law, HOME of VA filed a federal lawsuit and secured a settlement for Peggys family. Her case illustrates the devastating human cost when landlords choose discrimination over fair housing, and how HOME of VA holds landlords accountable. Informed by client experiences and stories, our public policy team developed an ambitious state legislative agenda. We and our community partners successfully advocated for the 2025 Virginia General Assembly to pass-most with bipartisan support -- six of HOME of VAs priority bills to expand access to housing, reduce discrimination in property appraisals and valuations, curb our high eviction rates, and improve housing conditions. HOME of VA, with the mobilization of over a hundred local residents, also advocated for housing equity at the local level. We promoted zoning reforms in Chesterfield County and property tax relief in Richmond City to increase housing access and stability.