Mayor Danny Avula made several key commitments to Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities on Tuesday evening, pledging to explore a Gun Violence Reduction Strategy and allocate millions in funding for affordable housing and mobile home repairs.

The agreements were made during RISC’s annual Nehemiah Action meeting at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Henrico County attended by more than 2,000 group members, according to RISC.

The two-hour assembly saw Avula respond to three proposals from RISC. The mayor agreed to work with the group on a procurement process to implement the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy, a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement, community organizations and others. In 2023, the faith-based group partnered with the recovery group REAL(Restoring and Empowering All Lives) Life to implement a gun violence intervention framework in Hopewell.

“We have had conversations with REAL Life,” Avula said. “We are eager to have them work with us. I can absolutely commit to having an ongoing conversation with a national expert entity that would be funded through existing funding.”

 Thousands attended the RISC Nehemiah Action Assembly at St. Paul’s Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 25

The meeting was the culmination of months of discussions between RISC and Avula, following multiple meetings before and after his election.

The gathering also followed RISC’s unsuccessful efforts to persuade former Mayor Levar Stoney to adopt their proposals. The weight of years of advocating for these issues, along with the urgency to secure concrete commitments from city leadership, were palpable in the speeches by RISC members. The crowd erupted in applause as agreements were reached.

 Mayor Danny Avula was asked to commit to addressing affordable housing, unsafe mobile home conditions and gun violence.
 

“If … the City of Richmond is committed to improving neighborhoods and the lives of the people who live in them, show us,” RISC member Sue Haupert-Johnson said. “Mayor Avula, prove it. Justice delayed is justice denied.” 

As part of his commitment, Avula also pledged $13 million for the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the next fiscal year and $800,000 for mobile home repairs in Southside Richmond. However, these promises came with qualifications. Avula noted the legal procurement process would need to be followed, creating uncertainty around the timeline for implementing the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy.

The funding for affordable housing and mobile home repairs was also shaped by the city’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which Avula submitted prior to the meeting. While his affordable housing commitment exceeded RISC’s $8.2 million goal, the funds allocated for mobile home repairs fell short of RISC’s request for a three-year, $2 million annual allocation.

RISC members acknowledged some of the decisions made by the Stoney administration had left Avula unable to fulfill all of their requests, such as restoring a $12.5 million allocation to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Following Tuesday’s assembly, RISC members were encouraged to attend a City Council meeting Thursday afternoon, where council members and Avula will discuss his budget proposal. RISC members will continue to follow up with the administration to ensure that the commitments made are upheld.