ICYMI: Governor Spanberger Signs Bipartisan Bills to Expand Homeownership, Lower Housing Costs

ROCKY MOUNT, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger continues to work with the General Assembly to take concrete steps to address Virginia's housing shortage and help more Virginia families achieve their goal of owning a home in the Commonwealth.

On Monday in Rocky Mount, Governor Spanberger joined legislators and local leaders to sign a package of legislation focused on increasing the supply of housing that Virginians can actually afford to rent or buy. The Governor also met with employees at Cavco - Rocky Mount, toured a new home, and discussed the barriers facing first-time homebuyers.

Read below for coverage from across the Commonwealth of Governor Spanberger's focus on making housing more affordable for Virginia families:

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The Roanoke Times: Governor signs bills on affordable housing, manufactured homes in Rocky Mount

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a series of bipartisan bills Monday with the goal of making housing more affordable for Virginians.

Under a tent set up just outside the Cavco manufactured homes facility in Rocky Mount, the governor signed a series of bills surrounded by delegates and other supporters. The legislation is intended to encourage greater housing development, cut red tape restricting the supply of manufactured homes and protect residents from hidden fees in rental agreements.

"Virginia is taking concrete steps to tackle our housing crisis from several different angles - expanding supply, protecting tenants, increasing transparency and making sure manufactured housing has the same standing under Virginia law as any other home," Spanberger said.

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Randy Grumbine, executive director of the Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association, praised the bills on Monday. He said it will give more families the opportunity to purchase a home.

ABC13 [Roanoke]: Gov. Spanberger signs bills to boost housing affordability in Virginia

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed several bills aimed at making buying a house more affordable.

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These bills will create a two-year pilot program to encourage housing development, help with supplying manufactured homes, and protect Virginians from hidden fees in rental agreements.

Spanberger has made affordability a top issue in office.

"It's not just a question of affordability; it's a question of time. There's not enough of a workforce to build up new neighborhoods when we can build them to bring them to communities where they have the demand; we can meet those needs," she said.

At the end of her speech, Governor Spanberger thanked Cavco for the amazing work they are doing in the community and applauded them for making such great strides in building manufactured homes.

WSLS [Roanoke]: Spanberger tours Rocky Mount factory, signs laws to make housing more affordable

As the national debate over affordable housing continues, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a package of housing bills Monday aimed at expanding access to affordable housing options and strengthening protections for residents of manufactured homes.

The legislation focuses heavily on manufactured housing, which is often a more affordable option for homebuyers. Manufactured homes are built in factories and transported to their final location, but they have historically faced zoning restrictions that can limit where they are allowed to be placed.

Spanberger said those restrictions have reduced housing options for many Virginians.

"This has left families with fewer options and a housing market that just doesn't work for Virginia," she said.

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Spanberger said increasing access to housing is critical for Virginia's economic growth.

"When workers can't find available housing options near their jobs, businesses struggle to grow," she said.

Bobby Canipe, CEO of Fostering Champions, said affordable housing remains one of the biggest challenges for young adults aging out of the foster care system. The nonprofit helps connect former foster youth with housing and other resources as they transition to independent living.

WDBJ [Roanoke]: Governor Spanberger signs bipartisan bills in Rocky Mount aimed at lowering Virginia housing costs

The fight to bridge the affordable housing gap in the Commonwealth continues, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger says new laws signed Monday will help expand options for Virginians priced out of the market.

"When housing supply is artificially constrained by zoning practices, everyone pays the price," Spanberger said.

Spanberger signed several bipartisan bills in Rocky Mount designed to lower housing costs and increase the supply of affordable rentals.

WFXR [Roanoke]: Gov. Spanberger signs legislation to increase supply of housing in Rocky Mount

Governor Abigail Spanberger visited Cavco Rocky Mount Monday to sign a slew of legislation tied to increasing the supply of affordable housing.

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"Virginia has a housing affordability problem across the board," said Spanberger, who says this batch of legislation helps to advance her Affordable Virginia Agenda. "It's real, it's urgent. And it's one of the biggest threats to our overall economic competitiveness."

"The legislation is going to help tremendously as companies expanding into Virginia today have a real hard time finding workforce housing," said Cavco general manager Jim Trepinski, who runs the only manufactured housing plant in Virginia.

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