Tell your VA legislators to support housing
Identify Your Legislators
Visit https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ to find the name and contact information for your Delegate and Senator
Send an Email
Use the sample text below to send an email to your legislators letting them know that you support the YIMBY policy initiatives in the 2025 Legislative Session. Please include your own housing story so they know that this message comes from a real individual constituent.
Please BCC hello@yimbysofnova.org on this message and you will qualify for a complimentary volunteer membership with YIMBY Action!
Sample Text
The housing shortage persists in large part because of exclusionary zoning and land use rules designed to prevent the construction of smaller and less expensive home types. With housing needs in our community reaching a critical level, it is time for the state to take action. More homes in our communities is too important an issue to leave to local municipalities to struggle with alone.
We are calling on the Virginia General Assembly to pass aligned bills in 2025, including:
- Allow more housing near jobs by legalizing apartments and mixed-use buildings in commercial areas, including near offices and retail.
- Legalize accessory dwellings aka ‘granny flats’ and make it easy for homeowners to build and rent them out in their backyards, and accommodate family members.
- Build more affordable housing where it is most needed by allowing churches & religious organizations to build affordable housing on their land through a streamlined process.
By legalizing homes of all shapes and sizes, especially in places with existing jobs and infrastructure, Virginia can improve residents’ quality of life, grow more jobs and population, reduce the inconvenience and impact of long commutes, reduce pollution from transportation and buildings, boost the economy in older walkable downtowns and suburbs, and increase access to housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and school districts for all Virginians.