Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME)

06/12/2026

As a paralegal at the Department of Justice, Moriah Wilkins kept landing in rooms full of lawyers defending companies that preyed on vulnerable people—while the people being harmed had no one in their corner.

So she decided to stand on the other side of that table, choosing civil rights law over higher-profile, higher paid positions. "I'm passionate about people," Moriah says, "and I don't want to perpetuate harm."

Today, she's our Senior Fair Housing Attorney, working to stop housing discrimination before it starts — by changing broken systems — and advocating for those who have faced housing injustice.

Recently, when a grandmother came to HOME unable to find a landlord who would accept her housing voucher, Moriah was there to advocate and have every hard conversation — offering "comfort, encouragement, affirmation, validation" — until they reached a settlement that for the client that "will change the trajectory of her life."

It's work like this, Moriah says, "that keeps me encouraged, keeps me grounded." 💛

06/05/2026

A grandmother. Parents trying to keep a roof over their kids' heads. All denied rentals for one unlawful reason: they used housing vouchers.

This week, Virginia Mercury told their story—and how HOME of VA helped them win financial settlements and reclaim their footing. The money doesn't erase the bias they faced, but it helps them chart what comes next.

Here's what makes this urgent: the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the housing voucher program entirely, putting our clients and millions more at risk.

Source-of-income discrimination has been illegal in Virginia since 2020, yet landlords keep flouting the law. If you or someone you know receives Social Security, veterans' benefits, or a Housing Choice Voucher, you're protected—and we're here to help.

Read the full story ⬇️
https://virginiamercury.com/2026/05/25/voucher-holders-face-housing-hurdles-as-trump-proposes-federal-cuts/

05/28/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? Virginia goes further than federal law to protect those who serve.

The federal Fair Housing Act bans housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, s*x, disability, and familial status. But it does not protect people based on their military status.

𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀.

Since 2020, military status has been a protected class under the Virginia Fair Housing Law. That means landlords, sellers, lenders, and real estate agents in the Commonwealth cannot treat you differently because you are:

✅ An active-duty service member in any branch
✅ A veteran with an honorable or general discharge
✅ A dependent who relies on a service member for at least half of their support

This matters a great deal in Virginia. The Commonwealth to is home to one of the largest populations of veterans and active duty service members in the country.

If you believe you've faced housing discrimination, file a report with HOME of VA.

➡️ Know your rights, share with someone who serves, and learn more at 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗳𝘃𝗮.𝗼𝗿𝗴/𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

05/21/2026

This week in Norfolk, we hosted a conversation on new uses and risks of AI when landlords screen applications for rental housing. It's already happening. And it's transforming housing access in troubling ways.

▶️ Access the full recording: https://homeofva.givecloud.co/housing2.0-tech-reform-civil-rights

Delegate Bonita Anthony, who represents Virginia's 92nd House District in the General Assembly, joined us with journalist Amanda Abrams, who has documented how the tech industry is changing the way Americans find housing.

We tackled three big ideas:

1️⃣ AI tenant screening is widespread, under-regulated, and built on unreliable data: Roughly 90% of landlords use tenant screening software, yet research — from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — has found it isn't an effective predictor of whether someone will be a reliable renter.

2️⃣ Algorithms don't just make mistakes — they encode injustice: Data fed into housing tech platforms reflects historical biases, especially in credit and in the criminal legal system. That's why Black and Brown renters and low-income tenants are disproportionately screened out.

3️⃣ Legislators are fighting back, but it's an uphill battle: Advocates like HOME and lawmakers like Delegate Anthony have been working to pass AI transparency requirements. As the delegate said Monday night: "If you aren't programming the algorithm, then the algorithm is going to get you." Yet industry lobbying and a lack of federal regulatory support is hampering efforts to ensure fairness.

For more than 50 years, HOME of VA has been on the front lines of fighting for your fair housing rights. As more violations move online, we're building new strategies to protect vulnerable Virginians.

➡️ Learn more about Virginia's fair housing laws and how HOME of VA defends your rights at homeofva.org/fairhousing.

05/16/2026

Recently at the 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮, we welcomed 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀 and 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗔𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗮 for a conversation about how state and local government can work together — and with nonprofits like — to expand access to safe, stable, affordable housing.

𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀 spoke about "historic tenant protections" she helped win during this year's General Assembly session, while noting that there is "still work that we have to do."

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗮 emphasized that "housing is the issue of our time," yet many people struggling with affordability "lack the bandwidth in their lives to come to a City Council meeting" or advocate in other ways.

For those who can, Mayor Avula urged residents: "𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 and your spheres of influence to move policy, to hold localities accountable — and ultimately connect with real people facing real distress in a challenging time."

We are grateful to the Delegate and the Mayor for their participation, and appreciate for hosting this special event.

05/15/2026

𝗔𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

But right now, AI-powered screening tools are quietly deciding who gets to rent an apartment in Virginia — often using data that's riddled with errors and criteria that have nothing to do with whether someone will be a good tenant.

Join us in Norfolk on 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟴 for an urgent conversation about what's happening and what we can do about it.

🎤 Delegate Bonita Anthony — a Norfolk legislator fighting for tenant protections in the General Assembly

🎤 Journalist Amanda Abrams — whose reporting has exposed the billion-dollar tenant screening industry

🎤 Presentations from and on renters' rights wins from this year's General Assembly

📍 Norfolk
📅 Monday, May 18
🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://homeofva.givecloud.co/housing2.0-tech-reform-civil-rights

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. Bring a friend.

05/08/2026

Passionate about civil rights and housing justice? Join Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia as a 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲. Support individuals and families across Virginia by investigating violations of housing rights and helping pave a path to justice. Learn more at homeofva.org/jobs.

05/05/2026

As AI decides who gets to live where—and that's happening now—how can we 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀?

Join us in 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸 on 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟴 for a timely, urgent conversation on AI, tenant screening, and fair housing in Virginia.

HOME of VA Executive Director Thomas Okuda Fitzpatrick sits down with:

+ Delegate Phil Hernandez, housing advocate and champion of new tenant protections

+ Amanda Abrams, journalist reporting on how AI is quietly deciding who gets to rent where

✨ Plus: updates from New Virginia Majority and Allies for Housing Action on the latest legislative wins for renters’ rights—and what’s ahead in 2027.

➡️ Don’t miss it—register now! https://homeofva.givecloud.co/housing2.0-tech-reform-civil-rights

04/30/2026

Housing justice is civil rights work. We’re hiring a 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 to help dismantle housing discrimination and expand equitable access to housing across Virginia. Learn more and apply: homeofva.org/jobs.

04/30/2026

Since 2020 in Virginia! Whether you have a Housing Choice Voucher, SSDI, or other form of rental assistance, your source of funds is protected here in Virginia. Read and learn more here so we can help!

Whether you have a Housing Choice Voucher, SSDI, or other form of rental assistance, your source of funds is protected from housing discrimination by federal and Virginia fair housing laws. Source of funds refers to any source that lawfully provides funds to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of hous...