Gubernatorial candidate River Bytheway announced his plan to secure lower housing costs for young Virginians, who are currently struggling to start families and find affordable housing in their communities. “Across Virginia, but particularly in our big cities like Richmond or NoVA, you see a common story. Young folks struggling to get ahead and put down roots, who can’t even think of starting a family, because of sky-high housing costs. They’re lucky to find affordable rental options with two or three roommates, let alone a house or larger rental that would be suitable for a young family. “That’s not sustainable. It’s not the American Dream. We can aim for better. “Many solutions simply try to throw money at the problem, but while that is a simple solution and understandable impulse, it hasn’t worked. We need to look elsewhere across the country and see what has worked and bring that here to Virginia. “What I am proposing isn’t radical or partisan. Conservatives, liberals, and centrists have all proposed solutions similar to what I am advocating. Many liberals have expressed their plans for an ‘Abundance Agenda.’ I say it’s time to bring Abundance to Virginia. As Governor, I am going to work with local jurisdictions and the state legislature to reform Virginia’s laws to allow more housing construction, driving down prices, introducing more options for Virginians of all backgrounds and needs, and bringing the American Dream back into focus for millions of young Virginians. “As Governor, I will work to change Virginia’s overly-restrictive permitting and zoning laws, which tie up new construction on apartments and new neighborhoods for months or even years, all while existing housing ages while rent skyrockets. I will work to ensure housing geared towards all income brackets, including affordable housing for low-income families, is secured across Virginia, particularly in areas with an affordability crisis. “I’ve seen it with my own kids. Too many young folks are stuck in aging, cramped housing, or can’t even afford to get out of their parents’ homes. This limits their hopes and prospects in the future. This is not healthy. It is not sustainable. We need a Virginia that uplifts the young and works to actively build up the future. That’s why, as Governor, I will also work to secure additional funding for housing construction through bipartisan cooperation and local coordination. “Young people are our future. We need to invest in them; we need a climate where they can succeed, find love, build their own families, and pave their own way through life. This is about providing the tools for young folks, and older folks too, to succeed on their own merits. It’s about abundance, prosperity, equity, and good government.”