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Friday, April 7, 2023
We want your questions!
We’ll be streaming and in person with Democrat candidates for the newly created Senate District 11 on Monday night at 6 p.m. on UVA’s campus. Incumbent State Sen. Creigh Deeds (of what is now Senate District 25) is campaigning against Del. Sally Hudson (of what is now House District 57) for the chance to represent us.
Click here to submit your questions for the candidate.
Have questions for your Democratic state senate candidates? We’re co-hosting a public conversation with them April 10
If you or someone you know in Charlottesville needs rental assistance, you have a few more hours to apply. Charlottesville’s window for accepting applications closes at 4 p.m. today (Friday, April 7). Those who live in Albemarle County have a little longer. The county is accepting applications until Thursday, April 13 at 4 p.m.
Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents who need help with rent have short windows to apply in early April
Now the details. This is the federal housing voucher program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That office grants localities a limited number of vouchers that pay a portion of an individual’s or family’s rent based on their income. (Here are more details about who qualifies.)
This is important: Not everyone who applies for a voucher will receive one. There are far more people in this area who qualify for vouchers than there are vouchers to give them. What’s more, receiving a voucher does not guarantee that the recipient will find a landlord willing to rent to them. In fact, there are many people in Charlottesville and Albemarle County with vouchers who never use them because they never find a place to rent. We dive into some of the nuances of this issue in this story that neighborhoods reporter Erin O’Hare wrote back in July when HUD released the latest Area Median Incomes for communities.
In the Charlottesville area, the rich are getting richer, while the poor are getting pushed out
Erin is exploring the issues with HUD’s housing voucher program locally and she’s interested in speaking with individuals who have received vouchers and landlords who have rented to people with them. If you or someone you know fits this description and can tell us more about how the system worked for you, please reach out!
Hit reply to this email, contact us through this form or leave a message at (434) 218-3649 and she will get back to you.
CATEC Foundation asks City Schools to be more transparent about its plans for the technical school
In other news, the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Foundation (CATEF) has expressed concern about the regional technical school’s transition to new ownership. Charlottesville City Schools recently bought out CATEC from Albemarle County Public Schools, ending the 50-year partnership between the two school systems. The decision was made quickly and City Schools is still working out many things involving the transition — including how it will pay for the school.
With that in mind, CATEF wants City Schools to hold off on finalizing the deal until it publicizes its plans for enrollment, tuition costs, school division and adult programs so that members of the public can offer feedback and voice their concerns.
“This is a dramatic change,” Linda Seaman, president of CATEF, told Charlottesville Tomorrow. “The public should have an opportunity on this.”
City Schools did not respond directly to CATEF’s request, but said that it hopes to soon “finalize some foundational decisions” that might answer questions from the community, CATEF and other stakeholders.
This is a special weekend for many in Charlottesville. Whether you’re celebrating Passover, Ramadan or Easter, we hope you enjoy it with the people you love.
See you Tuesday!
Jessie Higgins, managing editor
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