Recent survey shows housing affordability is a top concern for Richmond voters

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- During the nationwide affordable housing crisis, a new citywide survey reveals that housing affordability is the top concern for Richmond residents.

An overwhelming 74% of residents view housing affordability as a significant concern in a recent Richmond Smart Growth Survey conducted in late April 2025. The survey was commissioned by the Richmond Association of REALTORS and conducted by American Strategies.

Meanwhile, four in 10 voters (38%) cited housing costs and access as the most pressing issue that city leaders need to address. This "far outpac[ed] concerns about infrastructure or crime," according to the release.

Richmond announces funding is available for affordable housing projects

Mayor Danny Avula reviewed the survey's findings and aims to make Richmond a more equitable place to live. He aims to find solutions that help "greater housing opportunities across the city," per a release from the city.

"This report affirms what many of us have been hearing from our community for years: Richmond families are struggling to find housing that fits their budgets and meets their needs," said Laura Lafayette, Richmond Association of REALTORS CEO. "This survey is a clear call to action to advance smart, equitable housing solutions."

Disparities between Richmond’s high and low-income districts revealed in People’s Budget

Some of the key findings from the survey are:

• Affordability crisis: 74% of voters say housing affordability is a “very” or “fairly” big problem.
• Support for new housing: 72% support building more housing in their neighborhoods.
• Demand for diverse options: 66% agree Richmond needs more housing types, such as duplexes, condos, townhomes and small homes.

"The housing ladder is broken – people can’t move up, down, or across because there’s nowhere to go,” says Lafayette. “The survey confirms that residents not only recognize this, but are feeling its impact on affordability firsthand. The city of Richmond has a once-in-a-generation opportunity, through the Zoning Code Refresh, to modernize its zoning code and allow for a greater diversity of housing types, so that people can continue to call the city home at every stage of life.”

The report also highlights disparities in housing experiences based on race, income and geography. According to the results, lower-income households, Black women, renters in residents in Districts 5, 8 and 9 were more likely to report a declining quality of life and that "housing availability is insufficient to meet their needs."

The survey also emphasized that the city does not have sufficient housing options for first-time renters or buyers, middle-income households and older people.