Meet Victoria Almond

When Victoria Almond moved into an apartment in a neighborhood she selected after living in Tidewater Gardens for 10 years, she had no idea she’d have to dodge raindrops.

Stronger When Working Together

“The rain was literally coming in the window. I had to have a bucket because the rain was coming in,” recalled Victoria Almond, who moved to an apartment complex in 2021 while the Tidewater Gardens redevelopment was underway.

Caring for her three young grandnieces – ages 4, 5 and 6 – who she’s had custody of since they were born, left little time for Ms. Almond to haggle with the landlord about making the necessary repairs to the roof. Frustrated, she decided not to renew the lease even though she dreaded looking for another apartment.

The setback had a silver lining.

After Ms. Almond reached out to the People First^USI team to explain her dilemma, family-support specialists stepped in to help out. They worked with her to identify single-family homes that would accommodate a family of four and that were close to schools and childcare. They met with the landlord at a home Ms. Almond qualified for and liked, and who would accept a housing choice voucher from the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Throughout the Tidewater Gardens relocation process, the Lead Mobility and Family Support staff at People First^USI have developed relationships with local landlords and property owners to eliminate barriers and trepidation some of them might have about renting to people with vouchers. The team persuaded Ms. Almond’s landlord to install new kitchen appliances before she moved in. The landlord also installed new floors and a washer and dryer.

People First^USI specialists reviewed the lease agreement with Ms. Almond to ensure she read and understood the fine print. The City and NRHA paid for her moving expenses.

Today Ms. Almond, 58, lives with her three girls in a comfortable three-bedroom, two-story home with a fenced backyard in a neighborhood she personally selected because of the amenities.

“It’s my dream home. I live on a very quiet street and there’s a park a block away. It’s perfect,” said Ms. Almond, who’s lived there for three months. “People First took a lot of pressure off of me having to move. I don’t know how I would have done it without their help.”

Whether she stays there or returns to the new Kindred community when it opens for occupancy remains to be seen. Ms. Almond has a bad back that has made her disabled; walking up and down stairs several times a day to keep up with youngsters could eventually take its toll. At Kindred, she would qualify for a unit with one floor.

“I guess it depends on how my body does here with the stairs,” she said, “but I love my house.”

The City and NRHA’s right-to-return policy enables Ms. Almond and other relocated Tidewater Gardens residents to return to the new community when it’s completed. People First^USI will assist her with whatever decision she makes.