[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/virginia-poverty-law-center\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/virginia-poverty-law-center\/","headline":"Community Spotlight: Virginia Poverty Law Center","name":"Community Spotlight: Virginia Poverty Law Center","description":"The\u00a0personal injury attorneys\u00a0of Marks & Harrison are proud of the communities that we serve throughout Virginia. Every day, we encounter individuals and organizations who work hard to enrich our communities and make a difference in people\u2019s lives. That is why we have launched our \u201cCommunity Spotlight\u201d series. Our goal is to spread the word about […]","datePublished":"2020-03-05","dateModified":"2026-04-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/author\/marksandharrison\/#Person","name":"Marks & Harrison","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/author\/marksandharrison\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5f19b40a73ab49e8af765493aafa8c5651a274c64ede1000eb57bb6a971fb6c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5f19b40a73ab49e8af765493aafa8c5651a274c64ede1000eb57bb6a971fb6c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Marks & Harrison","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo.png","width":235,"height":87}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/virginia-poverty-law-concept.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/virginia-poverty-law-concept.jpg","height":711,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/virginia-poverty-law-center\/","about":["Community"],"wordCount":1019,"articleBody":"The\u00a0personal injury attorneys\u00a0of Marks & Harrison are proud of the communities that we serve throughout Virginia. Every day, we encounter individuals and organizations who work hard to enrich our communities and make a difference in people\u2019s lives. That is why we have launched our \u201cCommunity Spotlight\u201d series. Our goal is to spread the word about the valuable contributions that a wide range of organizations make to our communities and to encourage others to become involved. This month, we turn our spotlight on the Virginia Poverty Law Center.Get to Know the Virginia Poverty Law CenterVirginia Poverty Law Center919 East Main Street, Suite 610Richmond, VA 23219(804) 782-9430https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VaPovLawCtrTweets by VPLC The Virginia Poverty Law Center\u00a0is a 501(c)(3) organization that was launched in 1978. For more than 40 years, the VPLC has worked hard to break down \u201csystemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty.\u201d The VPLC carries out this mission through a combination of:Advocacy \u2013\u00a0The VPLC is highly active when it comes to supporting and proposing laws that affect the poor and vulnerable. For instance, in 2019, the organization seven new laws that will improve the rights of tenants in Virginia and six new laws that should better the lives of children living in foster care.Education \u2013\u00a0VPLC is the only statewide organization which provides training to local Virginia Legal Aid offices, private attorneys (including those doing pro bono work) and low-income clients. This training focuses exclusively on protecting and expanding the legal rights of low-income Virginia residents. VPLC also provides several online reference guides on topics such as foster care, Medicaid, affordable energy and supplemental nutrition assistance.Litigation \u2013\u00a0Although VPLC provides direct legal representation in only a limited number of cases, the organization partners with Virginia Legal Aid and others to help low-income Virginia residents to understand and take legal action in civil legal matters in areas such as consumer, housing, family, employment and health care law.Because of the important work it does, the Virginia Poverty Law Center receives widespread support from the state\u2019s legal community, including Marks & Harrison. We are proud to say that one of our attorneys, Joanna L. Suyes, has served on the organization\u2019s Board of Directors.Breaking Down Systemic Barriers for Virginia\u2019s Low-Income ResidentsThe Virginia Poverty Law Center focuses on civil legal issues in a wide range of areas, including:Consumer Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Through its work, VPLC addresses issues such predatory lending, debt collector harassment and student loan servicing. It also partners with credit unions and credit counseling agencies to improve financial education for low-income residents as well as the elderly and children living in foster care. Many people seek help through VPLC\u2019s Predatory Lending Helpline at (866) 830-4501.Housing Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Access to affordable housing is a major issue in communities throughout Virginia. VPLC seeks to protect the rights of tenants, government housing program residents and low-income homeowners, including educating them on how to handle landlord-tenant disputes and avoid predatory lenders. A great resource for information is VPLC\u2019s Eviction Helpline at (833) 663-8428.Health Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0VPLC often works with groups such as Healthcare for All Virginians, Virginia Coalition for Children\u2019s Health and Advocates for the Disabled to improve access to quality health care \u2013 one of the biggest crises facing the poor in our state and throughout the country.Public Benefits Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The organization provides legal training and educational outreach concerning public assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).Domestic and Sexual Violence Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0VPLC helps victims of domestic and sexual violence to get legal help for matters such as obtaining protective orders. The organization also focuses on legal assistance for immigrants who are victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.Elder Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The VPLC\u2019s staff addresses issues for those ages 60 and older through work with Virginia Legal Aid offices, Virginia\u2019s Long-Term Care Ombudsmen program, and the Virginia Department of the Aging. The VPLC also provides a Senior Legal Helpline at (844) 802-5910.Family and Child Welfare Law\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The VPLC\u2019s seeks to improve outcomes for low-income Virginia residents who face legal issues involving matters such as foster care, adoption, kinship care, divorce, child custody and child support.In addition to these areas, VPLC participates in several\u00a0special initiatives\u00a0such as the Affordable Clean Virginia Hunger Solutions and the Campaign to Reduce Evictions. VPLC also helps to organize the Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference \u2013 a three-day event that focuses on civil poverty law and justice issues. The 2020 conference will take place in October in Virginia Beach.Ensuring Low-Income Virginians Voices Are HeardA major component of the Virginia Poverty Law Center\u2019s work involves meeting with lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly to \u201cdefend, preserve and enhance opportunities\u201d for low-income Virginia residents in several key areas, including housing, public benefits, health care, elder care, family and child welfare, domestic violence, sexual abuse and consumer protection. You can see the issues which are currently on VPLC\u2019s radar by checking out its\u00a02020 Legislative Agenda\u00a0and\u00a02020 Crossover Report.40 Years, 40 FacesTo get a good understanding of the Virginia Poverty Law Center\u2019s impact on the live of individuals and families throughout the state, you should check out the \u201c40 Years, 40 Faces\u201d exhibit. The project features a combination of Glen McClure\u2019s stunning black-and-white portrait photographs and interviews by writer Marshall McClure. Those featured in \u201c40 Years, 40 Faces\u201d include a domestic violence survivor, a tenant whose landlord tried to charge him for apartment repairs and a woman who needed help with payday loan issues. As the exhibit\u2019s curator writes, Jeffrey Allison, writes, the exhibit provides \u201ca window into the lives of those Virginians who live in low-income circumstances while working to make their lives better with dignity, hope, and at times, simple acceptance.\u201dHow Can You Support the Virginia Poverty Law CenterAs a non-profit organization, the Virginia Poverty Law Center can always use donations, large or small, which help the organization to carry on with its mission. Go to the VPLC\u2019s website to use its online form\u00a0to make a donation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Community Spotlight: Virginia Poverty Law Center","item":"https:\/\/www.marksandharrison.com\/blog\/virginia-poverty-law-center\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]