[nfbwatlk] Seattle City Council passes tenant protection legislation

[Nightingale, Noel]

From: Seattle Office for Civil Rights [mailto:elliott.bronstein=seattle.gov at mail70.wdc01.mcdlv.net] On Behalf Of Seattle Office for Civil Rights
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2016 1:45 PM
To: Nightingale, Noel
Subject: [Suspect Bulk Mail] Seattle City Council passes tenant protection legislation

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Seattle City Council passes tenant protection legislation

New ordinance bans discrimination based on source of income

Yesterday Seattle City council unanimously approved a law<http://seattle.us10.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac75b3ad7b4529d7a58d3b08e&id=872d43bce8&e=892e03c0d1> that will significantly expand protection for renters in Seattle. Currently it is illegal to discriminate against residents who use a Section 8 voucher; the new law also will protect people from discrimination based on other sources of income, including pensions, Social Security, unemployment insurance, child support payments or any other governmental or non-profit subsidy.

Mayor Murray has said he will sign the ordinance, which also will create a new first- come, first-served screening process to help address housing discrimination. In addition, landlords will be required to accept pledges from community-based organizations to remedy nonpayment of rent if funds are received within 5 days of an eviction notice.

The ordinance also will ban preferred employer incentive programs that provide discounts on deposits and other move-in fees for rental applicants working for preferred employers, such as tech companies.

“One of the key recommendations of the HALA committee was for the City to address barriers that our most vulnerable residents face when finding a home to rent,” said Mayor Murray. “The legislation we introduced this spring expanded fair housing protections for renters using subsidies or other sources of income. Thank you to City Council for approving this proposal – our seniors, veterans and working parents will now be able to use their protected benefits towards renting a home.”

In April of 2016, Mayor Murray sent a legislative proposal to City Council<http://seattle.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac75b3ad7b4529d7a58d3b08e&id=8c060ce53f&e=892e03c0d1> expanding civil rights protection to renters with legal and verifiable non-wage sources of income as one step to address the growing affordability crisis in Seattle. The proposal was a recommendation of the Housing Affordability Living Agenda<http://seattle.us10.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ac75b3ad7b4529d7a58d3b08e&id=2fbaff59aa&e=892e03c0d1>.

“Tenants benefitting from preferred employer rental discounts aren’t the tenants that need assistance in the affordability crisis Seattle faces,” said Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who sponsored the legislation. “It’s the renters who are on social security or who receive child support assistance that need a helping hand, and that’s who this law was intended to aid.”

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights will begin enforcing most provisions of the ordinance 30 days after Mayor Murray signs it into law. The “first in time” policy will go into effect on January 1, 2017.

Read the full text of the ordinance here.<http://seattle.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac75b3ad7b4529d7a58d3b08e&id=18841cb996&e=892e03c0d1>




















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