Richmond’s adult poverty rate is nearly double the national average, which means that one in four people in Richmond are living in poverty. Two years ago, a group of concerned citizens created a nonprofit, Circles RVA, to break the cycle.
Circles RVA is a long-term, high-impact program that works with families in the Greater Richmond area, providing them the social network, financial tools, and emotional encouragement that people need to grow.
Participants enrolled in the program are called Circle Leaders, as they are leading their own journeys. As part of the program, they’re paired with Circle Allies, who help them along their path to financial stability and independence. Graduates of the Circles RVA program have celebrated major milestones like improved credit scores, purchasing vehicles, and paying down debt.
Share:
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ The Navigate Affordable Housing Partners Board of Directors is donating $125,000 to United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg for rent and housing assistance. This donation will help at-risk families stay in their homes as the CDC eviction ban expires on December 31, 2020. We believe quality housing is a fundamental human right, said Board Chair Spencer Ragland, But COVID-19 has left many people unable to pay their rent. Thousands of Virginia families are at risk of eviction. We hope this will help people stay in their homes.
The contribution is part of Navigate Gives Back, an initiative focused on charitable funding and voluntarism that empowers the communities Navigate serves.
WYATT GORDON
The Virginia Mercury
RICHMOND â When former Gov. Doug Wilder sold off the stateâs interest in hundreds of miles of track and rail right-of-way in the early 1990s, the move was applauded by the Republican-dominated legislature as a prudent divestment to help balance the annual budget.
Since then, though, the state has spent millions more on track improvements benefiting railroad corporations in exchange for every increase in passenger train service Virginia has sought.
To avoid another such flash sale of Virginiaâs rail infrastructure and to oversee an increasing focus on boosting passenger rail capacity to combat congestion, this March the General Assembly created the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.
There is no doubt the holidays look different this year.
Too many of us have lost loved ones too soon, experienced layoffs or pay cuts, and watched local establishments close for good in the wake of 2020âs unprecedented global pandemic.
Nonprofits are doing their best to continue the joy typically spread throughout the year, and especially during the holidays. However, they also are feeling the impacts of the pandemic particularly hard with closed doors, reduced attendance, fewer or no events and programs, and limited philanthropy.
As this year comes to a close, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill â especially Virginiaâs congressional delegation â work to approve overdue aid, I hope our leaders include common-sense liability legislation. These protections will go a long way toward giving nonprofits the confidence they need to carefully continue operating, and for others to slowly and safely reopen. This will be to the great benefit of our community.