Stoney administration launches rent relief program for qualified immigrant families

Stoney administration launches rent relief program for qualified immigrant families

Today, the city launched a program to provide rent and mortgage assistance to non-citizen and mixed immigration status households in Richmond. This program is designed to support those Richmonders excluded from federal assistance due to their immigration status.

 

The program is made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Open Society Foundations, a non-profit organization based in New York dedicated to providing assistance to groups excluded from federal assistance, such as non-citizens, mixed-status families and those with limited English proficiency working in domestic service jobs and other essential industries.

 

To assist as many households as possible, funds per household will be limited to $1500 or up to two months of rent, whichever is less. This support program is intended to aid households who are having trouble paying rent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants who have not received any other cash assistance throughout the pandemic will be given priority.

 

Applicants will work with the bilingual staff of the city’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and Help1RVA to determine their eligibility for the program, apply for assistance and complete the verification process.

 

“We are grateful for this grant, which will allow us to help bridge the gap for those individuals and families who usually are excluded from receiving government assistance and who play a crucial role in keeping our economy going,” said Karla Almendarez-Ramos, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

 

The funds will be sent directly to the landlord or property manager. Applicants must provide proof of income and a valid lease or mortgage statement confirming the landlord-tenant relationship.

 

Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia, the administrator of the city’s Eviction Diversion Program, will be in charge of making payments to landlords and property managers.

 

“HOME of VA is proud to partner with the City of Richmond as the fiscal agent to ensure access for vulnerable, underserved, and at-risk populations in the most integrated settings within the community,” said Monica Jefferson, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HOME. “Housing assistance can make a significant difference in the economic well-being of low-income families and those facing complex housing barriers.”

 

“If there’s one lesson we should take away from this pandemic, it is that everyone, regardless of immigration status, deserves a place to feel safe and secure,” said Mayor Stoney of the program. “This targeted effort will support families often overlooked in the design and implementation of public support programs, and I am so thankful that so many were willing to come around the table and find a fix to this challenge.”

 

Interested parties can learn more here.

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La administración del alcalde Stoney lanza un programa de auxilio con el pago del alquiler para las familias inmigrantes que cumplen los requisitos

 

Las familias interesadas pueden encontrar más información haciendo clic

aquí.

La administración de la ciudad de Richmond lanzó hoy un programa para proporcionar ayuda con el pago del alquiler o la hipoteca para familias con estatus migratorio mixto o que aún no son ciudadanos. Este programa está diseñado para apoyar a los richmondeses excluidos de la asistencia federal debido a su estatus migratorio.

 

El programa es posible gracias a una subvención de $250 000 de la organización sin fines de lucro Open Society Foundations, con sede en Nueva York, que se dedica a brindar asistencia a grupos excluidos de la asistencia federal, como los que aún no son ciudadanos, las familias de estatus mixto y aquellos con inglés limitado que trabajan en  servicios domésticos y otras industrias esenciales.

 

Para ayudar a tantos hogares como sea posible, los fondos se limitarán a la menor cantidad entre $1500 o hasta dos meses de alquiler por hogar. Este programa de apoyo está destinado a ayudar a los hogares que tienen problemas para pagar el alquiler debido al impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19. Tendrán prioridad los solicitantes que no hayan recibido otra asistencia en efectivo durante la pandemia.

 

El personal bilingüe de la Oficina de Asuntos Multiculturales de la ciudad y de  Help1RVA trabajará con los solicitantes para determinar su elegibilidad para el programa, solicitar el auxilio y completar el proceso de verificación.

 

"Estamos agradecidos por esta subvención, que nos permitirá ayudar a cubrir los gastos de aquellas personas y familias que generalmente están excluidas de recibir asistencia del gobierno y que desempeñan un papel crucial en el sostenimiento de nuestra economía", dijo Karla Almendarez-Ramos, Directora de la Oficina de Asuntos Multiculturales.

 

Los fondos se enviarán directamente al propietario o administrador de la propiedad. Los solicitantes deben presentar un comprobante de dirección y un contrato de arrendamiento o una hipoteca válidos que confirmen la relación propietario-inquilino.

 

Oportunidades de Vivienda Igualitarias (HOME, por sus siglas en inglés), la organización encargada de administrar el Programa de Prevención de Desalojos de la ciudad, se encargará de hacer los pagos a los propietarios y administradores de las propiedades.

 

"HOME de Virginia se enorgullece de asociarse como agente fiscal con la ciudad de Richmond para garantizar el acceso de las poblaciones vulnerables, desatendidas y en riesgo en los entornos más integrados dentro de la comunidad", dijo Monica Jefferson, vicepresidente y directora de operaciones de HOME. "El auxilio vivienda puede marcar una diferencia significativa en el bienestar económico de las familias de bajos ingresos y aquellas que enfrentan barreras complejas de acceso a la vivienda", agregó.

 

"Si hay una lección que deberíamos aprender de esta pandemia, es que independientemente de su estatus migratorio, todos merecen un lugar donde se puedan sentir seguros y protegidos", dijo el alcalde Stoney acerca del programa. "Este esfuerzo dirigido apoyará a las familias que a menudo son pasadas por alto durante el diseño y la implementación de programas de apoyo público, y estoy muy agradecido de que tantas personas estuvieran dispuestas a sentarse en nuestra mesa y encontrar una solución a este desafío", concluyó.

 

 

Las familias interesadas pueden encontrar más información haciendo clic

aquí.

City of Richmond receives credit rating upgrade from top-three rating agency

With upgrade from Moody’s Investors Services, city’s credit ratings now highest in half century

Moody’s Investors Services has upgraded the city’s outstanding general obligation debt rating to Aa1, the next-to-highest rating possible.

This is the first general obligation upgrade received by the city since 2014. As a result of the most recent upgrade, the city’s ratings from all three of the major rating agencies fall only one notch below the highest possible rating.

With Moody’s upgrade of Richmond to Aa1, the city’s credit is in its highest standing in half a century.

“I am pleased that Wall Street continues to recognize the progress our city has made in recent years,” said Mayor Stoney. “We got our financial house in order, and it’s paying off.”

The upgrade follows Moody’s July 2018 promotion of the city’s outlook from “stable” to “positive.” Moody’s cited Richmond’s continued growth, diversified tax base, enhanced reserves and conservative budget assumptions as its reasons for the upgrade.

A city’s credit rating determines how much the locality can borrow to build capital projects such as schools, as well as the interest rate affiliated with that sum. The higher the city’s credit rating, the lower the interest rate.

“A strong credit rating from all three major agencies allows us to literally build One Richmond, a city where residents can trust their government to provide the services they rely on and the development that will keep us growing,” said Mayor Stoney.

Acting Chief Administrative Officer Lenora Reid noted, “This credit rating upgrade can be attributed to effective operations citywide and the extraordinary efforts of the city’s finance staff. We are continuing on our upward trajectory.”

Click here to read the press release from Moody’s Investors Services.

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Statement from Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Councilwoman Ellen Robertson regarding tent encampment at Annie Giles Community Resource Center

Today the city held a public meeting with residents currently living outdoors on property owned by Virginia Commonwealth University adjacent to the city’s Cold Weather Overflow Shelter.

These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community. We are working with the full continuum of Richmond’s non-profit, faith-based, homelessness and social service providers to support this community and to work with each resident individually to address their unique challenges and circumstances.

While we have significant concerns for the health and safety of those living in the encampment, until a longer term solution is identified, we will work closely with these service providers to have a presence, on-site, at the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter so we can help connect those currently living there with available resources and more stable housing as quickly as possible.  

We firmly believe housing is a right, not a privilege. The city’s Homeless Strategic Plan (click here to access the presentation and report) will guide our path as we work with community stakeholders and members of City Council to find long-term solutions to homelessness in our city – from creating more shelter beds to providing healthy, safe and sustainable housing. We can and must do more.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney

Councilwoman Ellen Robertson

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Mayor Levar M. Stoney statement on the Johnson Consulting third party review of the Navy Hill proposal

“This third-party report, requested and funded entirely by City Council, confirms that the proposal is ‘written in the city’s favor,’ and reaffirms our confidence that in the event of a default, ‘the city has no legal or moral obligation’ and ‘retains control if the development does not perform.’

“The report also asserts that the arena program and cost, as well as the financials associated with it, are reasonable and consistent with venues in comparable markets.

“In reviewing the proposal’s financials, the third-party consultants found that all of the mechanisms deployed, including non-recourse bonds and a stabilization fund, are either entirely appropriate or the accepted industry standard and best practice. 

“Most importantly, the project’s effect on schools’ bottom line would be ‘net neutral’ at worst, and ‘positive’ at best.

“In short, this ‘world class’ project both is consistent with national trends and offers groundbreaking, transformative opportunities for Richmond. In fact, these consultants hired by Council stated that our growth has been inhibited by the absence of these types of projects. 

“Armed with yet another third-party report, a report which describes the proposal as a ‘thoroughly vetted development by various outside specialty consultants’ that promises ‘tax revenue potential,’ it’s time that council members come to the table and make this work.

“As the mayor of this great city, I want to see our elected officials exhibit faith in our city’s future, not fear borne of our city’s past.”

To read the most recent third-party report funded by Richmond City Council, click here.

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Mayor Stoney commits to holding RPS funding harmless in Navy Hill proposal

During the Richmond City Council Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting on January 16, Mayor Stoney’s administration committed to ensuring that RPS receives its fair share of revenue growth, including properties included in any Increment Financing Area within Navy Hill.

The administration will continue to allocate 57.76 percent of both current and delinquent real estate taxes, the amount allocated in Fiscal Year 2020, to RPS. This commitment aligns with the policy established by Councilwoman Kristen Larson’s Resolution 2019-R009, which was approved by city council on March 25, 2019.

“It is my top priority to ensure that Richmond Public Schools are the biggest beneficiary of the transformational project we’ve proposed in Navy Hill. That’s why I committed 50 percent of the approximately $1 billion in incremental revenues this project will create for RPS. But I have listened and heard Richmonders’ concerns about funding for RPS,” said Mayor Stoney. “That is why I propose we hold RPS’ funding harmless by budgeting for RPS based on the same formula City Council adopted in 2019, inclusive of properties in the increment financing area.”

As an example, under this resolution, any incremental growth in value from the Dominion Tower in downtown Richmond would still be appropriated based on this resolution, with 57.76 percent of the incremental growth in value being budgeted for Richmond Public Schools.

Current projections by the Departments of Finance and Budget and Strategic Planning, based on increases in taxable assessed values provided by the City Assessor, estimate increases in real estate tax revenues by more than $20 million in FY2021, when compared to the FY2020 adopted budget. Under current projections, the city anticipates that applying Resolution 2019-R009 to future real estate tax collections would result in an incremental $66 million for Richmond Public Schools Annual Budget by FY 2030.

“Our kids are our future, and we need to support them by proving reliable funding to enable RPS to create learning environments that help our youth thrive. Our budgets should always put the interests of our students first, and this proposal ensures they remain our top priority,” said Mayor Stoney.

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Mayor Stoney announces 2020 State of the City address

Watch the video invitation here.

The annual State of the City address will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

In his third State of the City address, Mayor Stoney will both reflect on the city’s many accomplishments and outline his plans for an even brighter 2020. The speech is open to the public.

“Over the last three years, we’ve made significant progress in building One Richmond and becoming a welcoming, inclusive and equitable city through change and investments that benefit all our residents,” said Mayor Stoney. “In 2020, it’s time to acknowledge that Richmond can meet its challenges and create opportunities to lift up and empower everyone in our city.”

For those unable to attend, the State of the City will be broadcast live on the city’s Facebook page, and a complete video will be uploaded to the city’s website and YouTube channels.

Spanish interpretation and American Sign Language interpretation will both be available on site.

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Mayor Stoney announces enhancements to Navy Hill project agreement, including promise of NASDAQ 100 tenant to bring 2,000 well-paying jobs to Richmond

In a press conference today, Mayor Stoney announced a series of enhancements made to the Navy Hill project agreement, including the intention of CoStar to bring 2,000 well-paying jobs to the neighborhood. 

“This interest from a NASDAQ 100 company that already has a strong presence in our city shows that with Navy Hill, Richmond can increase our tax base and bring new jobs downtown,” said Mayor Stoney. “Richmond can be competitive.”

CoStar announced in 2016 that it would headquarter its primary operations center in Richmond. The compact has infused more than $250 million into the local economy from its riverfront location at 501 South 5th Street. The company employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide.

“The Navy Hill development delivers everything a company like CoStar is looking for – access to transit, entertainment, conferencing, and new multi-family residential housing, all in a walkable and vibrant neighborhood,” said Andrew Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group. “Without the Navy Hill development as a complete-package option – we would not be talking about significantly expanding our commitment to the city of Richmond, a place where we already employ nearly 1,000 people. Richmond has so much to offer, which is why we would like to keep growing with it, providing competitive careers and compensation for residents in the process.

“Our employees have investigative, insightful minds and they think long-term. We do too. With Navy Hill, we’re able to plan not only for the growth that the company will experience in the near term – but also what the company can do 10 years from now. We’re eager to see this proposal move forward, and even more excited to potentially deepen our commitment to Richmond.”

“CoStar’s exciting announcement that Navy Hill could be home to 2,000 new employees and a 400,000 square foot office building is exactly what Navy Hill was designed to do,” said Thomas F. Farrell II, Chairman of The NH Foundation Board of Directors. “With City Council approval, we can revitalize our downtown, improve economic opportunity, and make Richmond the place for innovative companies and their employees to grow, thrive and live.

“Additionally, we have been listening to residents and are working hard to address their concerns by shrinking the size of the increment financing area, building more affordable housing units in the project area, and providing the City with more revenue, more quickly. We look forward to continuing our work with Council to deliver the best project for the City, taxpayers and residents.”

“I’ve always spoken about the transformational opportunity that the Navy Hill project embodies,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “This is further proof that our downtown redevelopment isn’t just about buildings. It’s about the economic empowerment of thousands of Richmonders.”

In addition to CoStar’s promise to bring 2,000 jobs as a tenant of the proposed project, the Mayor’s also announced developments in the size of the increment finance area, the proposed transit center and affordable housing. 

House Bill 1345, introduced by Delegate Jeff Bourne, would allow Richmond to use a portion of the state sales tax revenues in the project area to pay down the debt on the new arena. If it passes, the bill will allow the administration to reduce the size of the increment finance area by more than half.

Working with the Better Housing Coalition, the Navy Hill Development Corporation has identified two opportunities within the project area to build units for residents between 40 and 60 percent annual median income. With the addition of those two sites, the proposal meets the 15% affordable housing threshold that Councilwoman Ellen Robertson and Richmond City Council requested in 2018.

The Mayor also announced that NHDC and GRTC are studying two options for the location of the proposed GRTC transit center – the original 9^th street location and an additional site on Broad Street. “We want GRTC to have the opportunity to kick the tires on these options and advise us on what works best for GRTC and our residents,” said Mayor Stoney.

For more information on the Navy Hill project, contact Jeff Kelley at 804-397-9700 or jeff@kelleyus.com

Photo: CoStar/Navy Hill Preliminary Concept Design, courtesy of Capital City Partners, LLC

View the January 13, 2020 press conference here.

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