Root Policy Research 6740 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80220 www.rootpolicy.com 970.880.1415 Final Report 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in the Greater Richmond and Tri- Cities Region PREPARED FOR: CREATED: 3/19/21 Plan RVA, the Cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, Chesterfield County, and Henrico County Table of Contents I. Executive Summary II. Community Engagement Community Engagement Elements ............................................................................... II–4 Primary Findings .............................................................................................................. II–8 Resident Survey Findings .............................................................................................. II–10 Current housing choice .......................................................................................... II–10 Desire to move ........................................................................................................ II–14 Housing challenges ................................................................................................. II–22 Housing condition ................................................................................................... II–27 COVID-19 impacts on housing situation .............................................................. II–29 Experience seeking housing .................................................................................. II–29 Experience with housing discrimination .............................................................. II–34 Healthy communities .............................................................................................. II–39 Transportation ......................................................................................................... II–44 Findings from Resident Focus Groups ........................................................................ II–46 Snapshots of Recipients of Non-voucher Housing Subsidies.................................. II–49 Snapshots of Survey Respondents by Jurisdiction .................................................... II–57 Richmond snapshot ................................................................................................ II–58 Colonial Heights snapshot ..................................................................................... II–59 Hopewell snapshot ................................................................................................. II–60 Petersburg snapshot .............................................................................................. II–61 Chesterfield County snapshot ............................................................................... II–62 Henrico County snapshot ...................................................................................... II–63 III. Demographic Patterns Primary Findings ............................................................................................................. III–1 History of Residential Settlement and Segregation ................................................... III–2 Demographic Context .................................................................................................... III–8 Segregation and Integration .......................................................................................III–16 Income and Poverty .....................................................................................................III–26 Racially and Ethnically Concentrated Areas of Poverty (R/ECAP) ...........................III–39 Trends Affecting Diversity and Segregation ..............................................................III–47 ROOT POLICY RESEARCH i Table of Contents IV. Disproportionate Housing Needs Primary Findings ............................................................................................................. IV–1 Housing Market Overview ............................................................................................. IV–3 Disproportionate Housing Needs ................................................................................ IV–9 Rental Market Disparities ........................................................................................... IV–15 Homeownership Disparities ....................................................................................... IV–38 V. Access to Opportunity Primary Findings .............................................................................................................. V–1 HUD Opportunity Indicators .......................................................................................... V–3 Access to Education ...................................................................................................... V–12 Access to Gainful Employment ................................................................................... V–24 Access to Transportation ............................................................................................. V–34 Access to Healthy Communities ................................................................................. V–37 VI. Zoning and Land Use Analysis Why Zoning Matters ....................................................................................................... VI–1 Land Use Planning in Virginia ....................................................................................... VI–6 Land Use Development ................................................................................................. VI–8 Findings from Previous Analyses of Impediments.................................................. VI–11 Zoning and Land Use Review ..................................................................................... VI–13 Supplemental Zoning Review Matrix ........................................................................ VI–24 VII. Fair Housing Landscape and Action Plan Fair Housing Landscape ............................................................................................... VII–1 Past Fair Housing Actions ............................................................................................ VII–3 2020 Fair Housing Impediments ................................................................................ VII–5 2021-2025 Fair Housing Action Plans ........................................................................ VII–7 Appendices A. Bibliography ROOT POLICY RESEARCH ii Analysis of Impediments Working Group Acknowledgements Jurisdictions receiving HUD entitlement funds are required to complete an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice. In the Richmond-Petersburg Metropolitan area, HUD fund recipients include the Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, and the Counties of Chesterfield and Henrico. These localities decided to work together on their required AIs to achieve greater efficiency and cost-savings to all parties; to minimize duplication and maximize efficiency by coordinating their efforts; and to eliminate multiple government solicitations and reduce related expenses. PlanRVA, the regional planning agency for the Richmond and Central, Virginia area, was contracted to administer this effort. The following individuals collaborated to complete this AI. Daniel Cohen Emily DeHoog Chesterfield County City of Richmond Nicholas Feucht Tevya Williams Griffin, AICP Chesterfield County City of Hopewell Daniel Mouer Cathy Parker City of Richmond City of Petersburg Brandi Payne Jessica Russo City of Colonial Heights Chesterfield County David Sacks Rachael Thayer Henrico County Henrico County Calandra Trotter Chris Ward RRHA City of Hopewell Mark Bittner Lark Washington PlanRVA PlanRVA Heidi Aggeler Root Policy Research SECTION I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary: Greater Richmond/Tri-Cities Fair Housing Analysis: Region This AI examines structural and historical barriers to fair housing choice and access to opportunity for members of historically marginalized groups protected from discrimination by the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA). The AI was a collaborative effort among (the participating jurisdictions) spearheaded by PlanRVA and funded by each jurisdiction. The analysis examines the issue at a regional level resulting in a comprehensive document and also contains an executive summary for each participating jurisdiction. This Executive Summary is part of the Greater Richmond and Tri-Cities Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice (AI) study completed in 2020. It provides background on the study, discusses the regional approach, summarizes input from resident and stakeholder engagement, presents the primary findings from the research for the region, and concludes with a five-year action plan to address the barriers residents face in accessing housing and economic opportunity. Background The Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer its programs and activities in a manner which “affirmatively furthers” the policies of the Federal Fair Housing Act (FFHA). This obligation extends to all federal agencies that administer housing and urban development programs, as well as subrecipients of those funds—including cities, counties, and states. The method through which subrecipients demonstrate affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH) has changed significantly during the past decade. In 2016, HUD implemented a new rule that strengthened the reporting obligation (“Assessment of Fair Housing”).