Richmond organization looks to city council for increased mobile home park repair funding

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A community-based organization is looking to members of Richmond City Council to foot the bill for mobile home park repairs after $800,000 of budget funding they believed they would receive wasn't allocated in the city's new budget.

"These are mobile homes that are old and in really bad shape," said Rev. Marvin Gilliam, lead pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church and co-president of Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities (RISC)." These are the places right now that these individuals can afford and it's really challenging for them to be able to make the ends meet, as well as care for their children, in these kinds of conditions."

More than 80 people from RISC appeared at Richmond City Council's meeting on Monday, April 14 on behalf of those living in mobile homes.

"Structural damage such as water leaking, which leads to mold and the infestation of rodents -- yes, rodents," one member said.

"Neglecting immediate repairs means more families fall into chronic homelessness and adds to future cycles of poverty, illness and despair," added another member.

Gilliam told 8News on March 14 and March 25, RISC was told by Mayor Danny Avula that $800,000 from fiscal year 2025 would be allocated to the mobile home repair program, which is funded by the city.

"He told us on a couple of occasions that he was going to make sure that not only would the money be properly allocated and sent out for [fiscal year 2025] -- the $800,000 -- but also he had committed to $800,000 to additionally be placed in the budget for [fiscal year 2026.]"

On March 27, Mayor Avula unveiled his $3 billion proposed budget plan for fiscal year 2026 -- and the additional $800,000 was not there.

8News reached out to the City for an explanation for this and received this statement:

”The third phase of this program will be carried out in FY26, using the carryover funding of $800k from [fiscal year 2025], all of which will remain appropriated for the Mobile Home Repair and Replacement program in FY26. project:HOMES will need the upcoming year to complete their outstanding projects and we will evaluate additional funding once all the funds have been expended. During this section of the live discussion, the Mayor confused his affirmation of the carryover with a new budgeted line item and he apologizes for the confusion that may have caused.” Lawson Wijesooriya, chief of staff, city of Richmond

The organization is now looking to members of city council to provide amendments to hopefully add in additional funding.

Councilwoman Kenya Gibson, representing the Northside 3rd Voter District, has proposed an amendment to the budget to add $1 million for the program. She provided 8News with this statement:

“A budget is a moral document and the living conditions for many in these mobile homes are clearly immoral. I have incredible respect for the work that RISC does to transform the lives of those in our community with the highest needs. They do their homework and turnout in mass numbers. This is what effective grassroots organizing looks like, and democratic bodies should respond. With the amendment on the table, my hope is that council sets a path to address this acute crisis.” Kenya Gibson, City of Richmond Councilmember

8News asked Gilliam what efforts would look like, should councilwoman Gibson's amendment be voted down.

"We continue to fight and advocate, but more directly, these are individuals who are in desperate need of assistance -- their homes are really falling apart," he said.

City council will hold a budget work session at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, where council amendments will be considered.

This is a developing story, stick with 8News for updates.