Jobs and the Economy

In Virginia’s ever changing economy, too many working Virginians continue to struggle to make a living.  Jennifer has worked to ensure economic opportunity for all working Virginians.   

Affordable Housing

Homeownership is part of the American Dream, however, many Virginia families struggle to find affordable housing.  Many of Richmond’s teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters cannot afford to live in the communities they serve.  Richmond property values are climbing every day, in some neighborhoods faster than wages.  Richmond also has become an economically segregated city, yet neighborhoods with low, moderate and high income housing integrated together lead to the strongest communities.   Jennifer understands that stable housing is a significant step to self-sufficiency, and is committed to maintaining affordable housing for all income levels, and supported affordable housing initiatives through such non-profit organizations as the Richmond Habitat for Humanity and the Flagler Home at St. Joseph’s Villa.   Jennifer has worked in the House to implement policies that help maintain affordable housing by:

•      Co-sponsoring legislation to help preserve affordable rent for the elderly and disabled when apartments are turned into condominiums;

•       Co-sponsoring legislation creating a three-year, $2.5-million pilot project to provide temporary rental assistance for working families, covering the difference between one third of family income and fair market rent during a limited period of time while the family transitions from homelessness to financial independence; and

•       Supporting legislation to increase grants to local employees such as teachers, police and firefighters, commonwealth attorneys, and sheriffs to purchase homes in the locality in which they work. 

Reducing Tax Burdens

Virginia’s tax system was created for an 18^th century agrarian economy.  Most localities do not have any other means of revenue than property taxes, leaving much of the tax burden on homeowners.  Too often, working Virginians are left to bear too much of the tax burden as well.  As a Delegate, Jennifer has worked for fair tax policies that do not overburden working Virginians by:

•       Sponsoring legislation to reduce real estate tax burdens on senior and disabled homeowners by increasing eligibility for tax exemptions;

•       Co-sponsoring legislation taking over 140,000 low-income Virginians off the tax rolls by increasing the filing thresholds for the state income tax for individuals and married couples and increasing the personal exemption; and

•       Supporting a homestead exemption constitutional amendment permitting localities to exempt up to 20 percent of the value of owner-occupied homes from taxation.

Increasing Wages and Curbing Predatory Lending 

While the cost of living has increased 27 percent over the past 10 years, many wages have not kept pace.  As a result, too many working Virginians are living below the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Jennifer has supported efforts to increase wages by co-sponsoring legislation increasing the minimum wage and supporting efforts to increase state employee, teacher, and higher education faculty salaries.  Jennifer has also worked to ensure working Virginians can keep their wages without falling victim to predatory lending practices by seeking meaningful reform of the payday lending industry.