‘It’s disheartening’: Richmond mom demands answers after break-in, fire left her displaced

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – A Richmond mother says she and her infant daughter have been without a home for more than two months after a break-in and fire forced them out of their public housing unit.

She claims the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) has not done enough to help.

“It’s disheartening, and definitely makes you feel some type of way, especially as a single mother, trying to get on my feet right now,” said Lakia Lawrence.

Lawrence said the trouble started June 16, when she came home to find five men inside her Fairfield Court apartment. The Richmond Police Department confirmed the break-in, saying the men damaged the property and left drug paraphernalia and bullet holes behind.

Four days later, Lawrence says her problems continued when a fire broke out.

"It looked like somebody broke into my house and set the mattress on fire," she said. "It was not livable at the time."

RRHA boarded up the unit and told her it would take about two weeks to find another place. Lawrence says they offered housing at Hillside Court, but she turned it down over safety concerns.

“It was instantly triggering,” she said. “It made me feel like I was literally getting ready to go through the same thing that I just went through at the last unit, and that was a no-go for me.”

Lawrence said she stayed in touch with RRHA until July 31, when communication stopped.

On Thursday, August 21, 8News reached out to RRHA about the status of her relocation. Shortly after, Lawrence says an RRHA property manager reached out to continue the process of finding a new unit.

Lawrence said she has been paying for hotels herself ever since she was displaced in June.

“It becomes quite pricey," she said. "It’s literally going on two months."

When 8News contacted RRHA, the housing authority said it can not comment on a resident's specific case.

According to the policy provided by a spokesperson for the housing authority, "RRHA’s Public Safety Office may assist residents in identifying temporary accommodations if a permanent relocation unit cannot immediately be provided. This is handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances."

Lawrence said that in her case, she hasn't received any assistance from RRHA.

“Why was I not offered any type of hotel stays or some type of accommodation to offset this transition?” she said.

When 8News asked how RRHA ensures the safety of relocation units, a spokesperson for the housing authority provided the following response:

"RRHA, like all landlords, cannot guarantee the absolute safety of a unit or community," a spokesperson said. "However, RRHA ensures that all relocation units meet the standards for habitability, and we strongly encourage residents to use our Tip Line or contact law enforcement to report any suspicious or unsafe activity in or around their communities."

Lawrence says she has since scheduled a meeting with RRHA, and remains hopeful that she will be rehoused soon.