This afternoon at the Sustainability and Renter’s Rights committee you will consider an
ordinance prohibiting evictions 42 percent of the year. I write in opposition to this proposal and
ask that you consider additional investment in emergency rental assistance programs that are
proven to be successful in preventing an eviction in the first place.
It is financially prudent to invest in emergency rental assistance before an eviction is filed than
wait for an eviction action to be filed, risking the tenant’s housing and increasing the cost burden
on programs dedicated to preventing displacement due to eviction.
The average amount of emergency rental assistance provided by the Housing Levy was $1,686,
versus the average money judgment ordered against a tenant in an eviction for nonpayment of
rent of $4,078.14. This difference alone explains that preventing the eviction action from
beginning is the best approach the City must take to prevent evictions.
In 2019, the State legislature made significant changes to the process of eviction for
nonpayment of rent.
•
•

•

First, state laws now provide 14 days’ notice to pay or vacate. Often, this becomes
almost 20 days after rent becomes due.
Second, the law now provides tenants the opportunity to obtain judicial discretion and
enter into a payment plan of up to 90 days if nonpayment has occurred. A tenant has
also had the right to automatically reinstate their tenancy under the State law if they
pay 100% of the judgment owing within 5 days (now 5 court days).
Third, the State law now prohibits an eviction for non-rent charges.

These three acts are reducing evictions by providing tenants more time to pay their rent before
an eviction action can be started.
In Seattle, the Housing Levy provides emergency rental assistance to assist tenants in
remaining in their home during a financial emergency. In 2018, the Housing levy provided on
average $1,686 in financial assistance to 553 families. After 12 months 95 percent of these
families succeeded in remaining in their housing.
Additionally, the United Way of King County has created the Home Base program and in 2020,
the program has $3.1 million in flexible funding to assist experiencing a financial crisis.
The Seattle Women’s Commission and Housing Justice Project’s Losing Home Report,
published in 2018, provides the best evidence that supporting tenants before an eviction begins
is the most appropriate approach to take instead of creating an unreasonable eviction
moratorium.
•

There were 508 evictions filed in the months of January through March and November
and December 2017. The allegation that rent was unpaid occurred in 88 percent (449)
of these cases. The average rent of these cases was $1,293.00.

 •

A Writ of Restitution was entered in 340 of these filed cases and a money judgment was
ordered 234 of these cases. In cases where nonpayment of rent was the allegation, a
Writ of Restitution was entered in 66 percent of these cases, and a money judgment was
ordered in 45 percent cases. Where a judgment was entered for nonpayment of
rent, the average judgment was $4078.14.

We support a modest increase in the emergency rental assistance to provide tenants
experiencing financial hardship the opportunity to recover their tenancy prior to an eviction
action starting and ask that you consider this approach as an alternative to preventing the court
from considering evictions altogether 42 percent of the year.

Jan.
2017
Total Evictions Filed
Primary Reason: Lease Violation
Primary Reason: Mutual Termination
Primary Reason: "No Cause
Termination"
Primary Reason: Nonpayment of rent
Primary Reason: Non-rent charges
Other

Average Rent of Unit
Writ of Restitution entered
Writ of Restitution entered Nonpayment of rent
Money Judgment entered
Money Judgment entered Nonpayment of rent

Average Judgment

Feb.
2017

Mar.
2017

Nov.
2017

Dec.
2017

Total

113

87

127

89

92

508

10
2

4
2

4
3

13
4

3
4

34
15

1
97
2
1

1
79
0
1

1
118
0
1

0
70
0
2

0
85
0
0

3
449
2
5

$1,199.
92

$1,104.
70

$1,389.
34

$1,230.
85

$1,226.
14

$1,230.
19

77

49

83

63

68

340

64
55

44
36

78
54

50
41

61
48

297
234

45

31

51

31

43

201

$3,465.
50

$3,435.
63

$3,114.
60

$3,680.
79

$3,998.
99

$3,539.
10