VHA is pleased to feature Charles Miller – Virginia Housing Alliance’s Policy & Advocacy Associate – as our first Housing Advocate Spotlight for 2026.
A native Richmonder, Charles graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies (with a minor in Spanish). He also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Charles got his start in housing policy work during the summer of 2023, when he accepted a two-year position as a Legal Division Fellow at Virginia Housing. During the second half of his fellowship, Charles served as a Loaned Policy Fellow with VHA, where he worked on research and analysis projects for various affordable housing initiatives. Charles recently rejoined VHA – this time, as a full-time staff member – and we are thrilled to have him back on the team!
Charles has worked on a number of housing policy issues at both the state and federal levels, with the broader goals of advancing affordable housing opportunities and ending homelessness throughout Virginia. His prior advocacy has involved zoning reform, Housing First policies, decriminalizing homelessness, state and federal housing tax credits, and fair housing. Charles describes his involvement with the 2026 General Assembly as a “pivotal moment in [his] career” – and his policy analysis and research skills were invaluable to VHA’s legislative advocacy during the regular session. “I watched the success of key legislative priorities I had researched and supported.”
Charles is currently working on drafting VHA’s public comments around proposed rule changes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), arguing that these new restrictions “[would] revoke housing subsidies for mixed-status immigrant families and impose strict work requirements and unfeasible time limits on rental assistance.” For more information about the proposed HUD rule changes, check out this recent blog post from VHA’s Policy & Advocacy team.
Charles is immensely passionate about social justice – and in his perspective, this inherently includes housing justice. “I envision [an] affordable housing utopia as a world where everyone, regardless of income, identity, or ability status, can live, work, and thrive in the community of their choice. The phrase ‘housing is a human right’ wouldn’t be a posterboard, it would be the law and reality of the land.”