Richmond, VA — The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) launches the “Come Current” campaign to encourage RRHA families who are behind in their rent to bring their balances current.
As part of this push, each RRHA management office will reach out to each RRHA family who is behind to schedule a meeting to discuss their account. At this meeting, property managers will offer resources that range from financial assistance options, budgeting, employment assistance, and free or nearly free childcare.
In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, many RRHA families have not consistently paid their rent. RRHA provides housing to nearly 4,000 public housing families. Of those, more than 1,500 households are behind. The current freeze on lease enforcement implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and the Virginia General Assembly is set to be lifted at the end of June 2021.
“We understand that the pandemic has had a debilitating impact on many in our communities. Looking ahead, we want to make sure that our families use this time to catch up, so that they are not subject to lease enforcement action when the moratoria are lifted,” said Interim CEO Stacey Daniels-Fayson.
RRHA has not performed any lease enforcement for non-payment since November 2019, when the Agency froze all enforcement actions related to non-payment. This self-imposed freeze was designed to make it possible for RRHA families who were behind on their rent to catch up and avoid lease enforcement action. RRHA extended the moratorium three times. When COVID hit, the moratorium was again extended, this time through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
RRHA’s Director of Public Housing Charles Williams and his staff have been working throughout the pandemic to keep families housed. Late last year into early this year Williams and his staff secured resources from partner organizations to apply to the past due balances of over 1,100 families.
“The resources that were applied to those accounts are no longer available. It’s important that RRHA families do what they can to get back on track. Our goal is to try to ensure that our families are in the best possible position when the moratorium is lifted,” said Williams. “It’s up to them to use this time.”
RRHA public housing families who are behind in their rent are encouraged to reach out to their management office and schedule a meeting to assess their account and put a plan in place to come current.