The Washington State Department of Commerce has committed to providing $66 million more to King County for rent relief. Funds are running out with 11,245 households still assigned to a provider and 10,943 applications that have pre-registered and are waiting for assistance. National reports echo these grim numbers. Neighboring counties like Snohomish and Pierce County implemented their programs manually and were quicker to get money out the door. Building a robust payment system took the work of many, and there has been no higher priority than keeping people in their homes as we built the equitable recovery King County residents deserve.. In April 2020, Governor Jay Inslee amended Washington State's initial eviction moratorium to prohibit landlords from increasing rents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for over a year, tenants were protected from rent increases, as well as from many kinds of evictions. By Type (3) 5-Day Notice to Quit ( Non-Payment of Rent) - This form may be used when the tenant has failed to pay rent when it is due. Based on the pace established earlier this month, The Urbanist had calculated King County wouldnt be finish distributing its federal assistance by years end, but it appears the County is picking up the pace a bit distributing a new high of $8 million in rent assistance last week and turbo-charging distribution by contracting with nonprofit and community-based organization partners. Seattle to extend eviction moratorium through end of June Inslee extends eviction moratorium, public utilities proclamation on March 18, 2021. The city of Seattle alone has invested nearly $59 million toward rental assistance using general funds and federal funding during the last two years. Additional information can be found in theProcedures for Writs of Restitution. Due to limited funding remaining, the EPRAP program is no longer accepting new applications for rent assistance. That action included directing $658 million in federal aid dollars through the new state budget, which takes effect July 1, for rental assistance. Inslee extends eviction ban in Washington - The Seattle Times This timeline protects tenants from evictions for non/late payments throughmid-June2022. Landlords cant just tell you to get out and change the locks on your doors. King County EPRAP has limited funds available. If you are a tenant and you have begun working with a staff member on your rent assistance application, you can log into your tenant portal using the link Im a Tenant below. Because of sometimes lengthy legal processes, the scale of evictions wont be clear for some time. Register for the Zoom Link. Pierce County has so far spent about $19 million for rent and utility help, of roughly $69 million from various sources, according to the county. They have protected vulnerable households and have prevented racial inequities from getting even worse. Washington's statewide eviction moratorium expires on June 30, leaving a large number of low-income and vulnerable residents at risk of eviction, even as they struggle to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Witter said running out of money isn't the only problem. The King County Eviction Prevention and Rent Assistance Program (EPRAP) helps residents behind in rent and utility payments due to COVID-19 hardships. Whether you are waiting for rent assistance in the Tenant Pool or currently in the process of being served, if your landlord issues you an eviction notice, help is available. We are committed to working with the County Executive, ensuring the community both landlords and tenants understand the program and the availability of funding.. The county Department of Community and Human Servicessaid it will direct any additional money it receives to people who have already applied through the portal. Evictions (writs of restitution) - King County Seattle's eviction moratorium, which for the past nearly two years has prevented evictions of residential renters, small businesses and nonprofits, will be extended through the end of. As of now, the majority of these funds have been disbursed or otherwise obligated through city partners, said Stephanie Velasco, communication director for the Office of Housing. Mayor Durkan has also directed utilities to refrain from shutting off service to customers through January 15, 2022. The landlord is responsible for providing the moving crew and all other needed items. AKA mid-January. King CountySuperior Court Seattle, WA 98104, Find certified small business contractors and suppliers, Department of Community and Human Services, Supporting Residents Experiencing Homelessness, COVID-19 Response: A Year in Review Timeline. Meanwhile, landlords under the new order must offer tenants a repayment plan before the eviction process is started. (The Urbanist Elections Committee endorsed Nguyen.) Over 44,000 have children under 18 in the household. Seattle's Mayor is the head of the Executive department. However, when the state eviction moratorium protections were lifted, rent increases were no . Its up to them to get it distributed.. There are still protections in place. Update: This article was updated at 1:42pm October 29th to add Governor Inslees no extension announcement. Warning of 'wave of evictions,' Sawant calls for extension of Seattle For more program information and updates, please visit the United Way of King County rent help webpage found in the For Questions information box to the right. Sawant argued the city is on the edge of an eviction crisis. I have no desire to ever throw out a tenant but I dont know what were going to do, Toepel said. But Gov. Advocates say the key to keeping renters in their homes will be another infusion of emergency rental assistance funding. Trevor Rigdon has a plan for the next week: Pick up as many Instacart and DoorDash trips as he can, looking to average 10 to 12 hours of work each day. On Feb. 22, the Seattle City Council voted 5-3 against a proposal to extend the moratorium for. Over the past five weeks as both the County and local partners have conducted outreach efforts, nearly 10,000 new households have applied to the program, indicating that need in the community remains high, the Executives office wrote. Because of high demand, the Housing Justice Project cannot currently help tenants earlier in the eviction process, such as upon receipt of a 14-day notice. Officials around the nation are seeing a slowdown in people starting the vaccination process, Shah said, adding: That is something that we are concerned about in the public health community.. Please dont walk away now. Thats illegal, Simpson said. Landlords can find information about state mitigation programs on the Department of Commerce website. McCoy is advocacy director of Real Change and leads the House Our Neighbors campaign that crafted the Seattle social housing initiative. I have a hard time seeing them as fully operational.. Residential tenants who receive aneviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 2066845700. We also expect to receive soon additional funds to continue operating the program into 2022, communication director Chase Gallagher said in an email. The Housing Justice Project, which represents King County tenants facing eviction, is receiving 150 to 200 calls a day, up from 40 to 50 about six months ago, said senior managing attorney Edmund Witter. Governor Jay Inslees eviction moratorium bridge order is set to expire on October 31st, and the Governor confirmed Thursday he is not issuing another extension, as the Spokesman-Review reported. Tenants who owe one month of rent or less can repay the amount in three monthly installments, while those who between one and two months of rent can pay in five installments and those who owe more than two months can pay with six monthly installments. On Feb. 28, Seattles COVID-19 residential and commercial eviction moratorium ended. Without that, I would be homeless not a question about that one, Rigdon said. Weve done about all we can do, Inslee said. Find information about your rights and how the eviction process works at washingtonlawhelp.org. All residential tenantswhodemonstrateenduringfinancial hardship preventing them from paying rentwillreceive continued eviction protections for at least six months after the end of the moratorium, providing additional security for those most at risk through aspecificlegal defensecreatedbyordinance. Mailing Address: Get Help with Rent | United Way of King County Even with an array of new city and state protections, including the right to a payment plan, the notice is a source of anxiety because its the first step toward potential eviction. King County EPRAP has limited funding available. They have protected vulnerable households and have prevented racial inequities from getting even worse. BIPOC communities, people with disabilities, households with children, LGBTQIA+ communities, immigrants, those with the lowest incomes, and other marginalized groups all face serious risks of homelessness on November 1st unless eviction protections are extended.The undersigned organizations urge you to extend the eviction bridge protections until the end of the public health emergency or at least until rental assistance funds are expended. Both landlords and tenant advocates have questions about how the state will define which counties can go ahead with evictions and when. Phone: (206) 684-4000. We rely on donations from readers like you to sustain Crosscut's in-depth reporting on issues critical to the PNW. The moratorium on eviction of nonprofit and small business commercial tenant applies to independently-owned businesses with 50 employees or fewer per establishment, state nonprofits, and 501(c)3) nonprofits. MayorHarrellhas also directed the Citystaff to develop a website to connect tenants and small landlords to available financial resources,information onrights and protections,and other criticalupdatesneeded as the moratoriaends. And almost 169,000 renters express no confidence in their ability to pay next months rent. Apply onlineor call their helpline: 425-747-7274 (English) 425-620-2778 (espaol). Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Seattle's eviction moratorium ended, but some protections remain Tiffani McCoy was our January guest to talk Initiative 135. Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm will be joining us for an Urbanist talk on May 9. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is extending the city's COVID-19 eviction By subscribing, you agree to receive occasional membership emails from Crosscut/Cascade Public Media. King County expects to have 6,000-8,000 rental assistance applications to address after the eviction moratorium bridge expires. Those funds flowed to local governments, and payments were distributed directly to landlords. For tenants and landlords, the wait for rental assistance has been excruciating. The extension also prevents eligible small businesses and nonprofits from incurring late fees, interest, or other charges due to late payment during the moratorium. The WLIHA stresses that that eviction moratorium is working: Protections under the bridge proclamation and your previous eviction moratorium have played a massive role in preventing homelessness. Apply online or call their helpline: (425) 747-7274 (English) (425) 620-2778 (Espaol). Witter also said its essential that tenants facing eviction show up to court, which is currently being held remotely over Zoom. Last week, the moratorium expired, opening a new chapter: the return of payment-related eviction notices, new demand for financial and legal help and a test of new tenant protections meant to keep people housed. According to the Housing Justice Project (HJP), an arm of the King County Bar Association that provides free legal assistance to people facing eviction, most evictions filed during the state moratorium on evictions between April 2020 and March 2021 occurred in South King County, which was also particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Tenants who have not yet applied for rent assistance can join United Ways waitlist at uwkc.org/renthelp. The Mayor directs and controls all City offices and departments except where that authority is granted to another office by the City Charter. Eviction Moratorium Expired February 28, 2022. The well-paid front-of-house work he depended on still hasnt fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, he said. As part of receiving rent payments from King County, the landlord signed a Payment Agreement. Evictions (writs of restitution) - King County An eviction (Writ of Restitution) involves a tenant being court ordered to leave a residence. Landlord-Tenant | Washington State Payment Plans Request payment plans online to Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities. So far, 716 households have received about $6.4 million, according to Jackie Anderson, division manager at the Snohomish County Human Services Department. SEATTLE Seattle's eviction moratorium officially ended Monday, two years after it was enacted. Skip to main content Landlords are encouraged to contact the detective prior to the physical eviction. SEATTLE - Seattle's eviction moratorium will expire at the end of February after Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a final two-week extension for the program through a new executive order Friday. For tenants who are actively facing eviction in court, the Housing Justice Project has a pool of about $13 million in county funds for rent assistance. The countys emergency rental assistance is available to people making less than 50% of the area median income. If the Executive continues to fail on getting out rental relief he needs to extend the moratorium for unincorporated areas. According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau survey, nearly133,000 adults in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area say they are behind on rent or mortgage and do not expect to be able to pay next month. Last year, King County distributed about $38 million in rent assistance to 9,000 households. Free Virginia Eviction Notice Forms (3) - Word | PDF - eForms Before COVID, it was normal in King County to evict more than 4,000 households a year, and those evictions contained really appalling racial, ethnic and gender disproportionality within them, said Flor. Additionally, in King County, there is currently a court order that any eviction may be delayed by up to 60 days for a person who is enrolled in the EPRAP program to allow time for the program to pay rent. If you receive an eviction summons in King County, contact the Housing Justice Project at 206-267-7069 or email hjpstaff@kcba.org. The moratorium created a situation where not only the savvy survive, where those waiting on rental assistance were also protected, he said. With not everyone in need receiving rent assistance on the front-end, many could end up in eviction court. Like what weve seen in most communities, you dont see this automatic wave of evictions right away because there are a number of tenant protections, McGowan said. Seattle's Eviction Moratorium to Expire at the End of February Example video title will go here for this video. Washington and Oregon Moratoriums on Residential and Commercial Evictions Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. What has been abundantly proven over this last year and a half is that these eviction protections are working.. The Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) includes permitting, construction inspections, code compliance and tenant protections, and rental housing registration and inspections. Eviction Moratorium Will Expire at the End of February by Jamie Housen on February 11, 2022 Announcing a final two-week extension of the eviction moratoria, Mayor Bruce Harrell issues directive to support vulnerable tenants and small landlords through $25 million in emergency assistance, online resources Commercial Leases Resources to help negotiate and amend leases for commercial property. Housing advocates also point to weekly housing surveys which shows tenants continue to struggle to make rent. Seattle provides additional eviction protection for qualified renters after the moratorium expires. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Visit our eviction assistance page for both renters and landlords to learn about post-moratorium regulations and resources. 401 5th Ave., Suite 500 The Housing Justice Project estimates 5,000 to 7,000 households could be left behind when funding runs out. The CDC's announcement came one Please dont walk away now, the letter continues. Everybodys kind of confused about what they can and cannot do, Simpson said. Click here for information regarding the Solid Ground organization. Payments are distributed to tenants by United Way and other community groups and through payments to nonprofit affordable housing providers, according to the Seattle Office of Housing. The City continues to assess when to lift these individual suspensions as it relates to the COVID-19 emergency. We cant have no income for that forever.. . The program finally got up and running this month, but King County had a lot of money to distribute as the most populous county in the state, which means it is still lagging behind. United Way of King County has launched a service on its website to alert tenants to new financial help if it becomes available. Ultimately, its getting money to pay back rental debt that will keep tenants in their homes. For cases filed in General District Court, the average cost is $110. Distributed Federal Rental Relief Funds:King County: 4.5%Pierce: 59%Snohomish: 47%We have the money. Fortunately, our eviction moratorium has withstood initial legal challenges in King County Superior court as it is directly tied to the COVID-19 public health crisis." The landlord may provide this notice and then wait the requisite fourteen days before proceeding with the eviction process. HJP received assurances the County would go back and double check for erroneous rejections, which could be why the rate is so high. Meanwhile, King County plans to stop accepting new applications for pandemic-related rent assistance on the same day Seattle's eviction moratorium will end, on Feb. 28. For evictions because of rent owed during the pandemic, landlords must offer tenants a payment plan with monthly payments of no more than a third of the rent. STAFFORD COUNTY. A key piece of the safety net for tenants like Rigdon throughout the pandemic has been hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for emergency rent assistance. Box 94749, Seattle, WA, 98124-4749 Jay Inslee announces he won't seek reelection in Washington state, Seattles about 5 inches behind normal rainfall this year, Download KING 5's Roku and Amazon Fire apps to watch live newscasts and video on demand, Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program, Organization suspected of paying fraudulent rental assistance applications, Thurston County claims, King County to stop accepting new applications for rental assistance program. Free legal assistance to renters facing eviction in King County. Data about how many people have fallen behind on rent in Seattle and King County is spotty at best. The city's moratorium was set to end June 30, but Seattle and King County are still in the process of distributing tens of millions of dollars in payments to landlords on behalf of tenants who . However, Harrell's office said it's difficult to track the number of people who have benefited from the moratorium. Building a database to manage King Countys $145 million (with more on the way) has contributed to the delay, Ellerbrook said. In the first three days of March, after the Seattle moratorium ended, another 202 cases arrived. Theorder will alsomodifyadditional COVID-relatedreliefmeasuresrelated to utility assistance. Every Sunday morning, Crosscut's weekly email sums up the best stories of the week. In other parts of the country, a feared tsunami of evictions has largely not materialized, likely because of a combination of government assistance programs, court backlogs and people who move out without going to court. Tenants who have not yet applied for rent assistance can join United Ways waitlist atuwkc.org/renthelp. Seattle's COVID-19 eviction moratorium expired on February 28, 2022. Its now becoming exacerbated, Sardinas said. Seattle renters must show up in court to use the remaining protections against eviction. Watch the video. If you get an eviction notice, call the Renting in Seattle Helpline. Lifting these protections early will put many, many households in harms way.At this point, all county rental assistance programs are operational and working hard to meet the massive need in their community. Josh Cohen is Crosscut's city reporter. The Countys proclamation appears a signal to Governor Inslee that its OK to let the moratorium lapse. For additional questions please see the Office of Economic DevelopmentsCOVID-19 Lease Amendment Tool Kit.