Anthony Auriemma
CBO Preventing Evictions Supplemental ORD
D2

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CITY OF SEATTLE

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ORDINANCE __________________

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COUNCIL BILL __________________

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..title
AN ORDINANCE relating to the Human Services Department; amending Ordinance 126000,
which adopted the 2020 Budget; changing appropriations to various Budget Summary
Levels and Funds; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, on November 2, 2015, the Mayor issued a Civil Emergency to address the
homelessness crisis in the City of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution 31630, ratifying and
confirming the Mayoral Proclamation of Civil Emergency; and
WHEREAS, in September 2018, the Seattle Women’s Commission and the King County Bar

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Association jointly published Losing Home: The Human Cost of Eviction in Seattle,

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finding that households who are evicted face material hardships that make it more

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difficult to secure safe and affordable housing and that the most disadvantaged groups

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face the highest likelihood of eviction; and

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WHEREAS, the Losing Home report found that most evicted respondents became homeless,

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with 37.5 percent completely unsheltered, 25.0 percent living in a shelter or transitional

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housing, and 25.0 percent staying with family or friends. Only 12.5 percent of evicted

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respondents found another apartment or home to move into; and

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WHEREAS, compared to low-income housed children, homeless children exhibit lower

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academic achievement, increased risk of health problems higher levels of behavioral

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problems;

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 Anthony Auriemma
CBO Preventing Evictions Supplemental ORD
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WHEREAS, in 2018, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) investigated the

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deaths of 194 individuals presumed to be homeless. This represents 25 more deaths than

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investigated in 2017; and

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WHEREAS, people experiencing homelessness have a much higher risk than the general

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population of developing exposure-related conditions. The KCMEO 2018 investigation

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found that over half (n=107) of presumed homeless deaths investigated occurred outside

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and that approximately 62 percent (n=121) of presumed homeless deaths investigate were

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attributed to non-natural causes (drug overdose, accidents (that includes hypothermia),

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suicide, homicide, and undetermined); and

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WHEREAS, the 2018 Point in Time Count found 7,797 persons experiencing homelessness in

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the City of Seattle; with 15 percent of persons surveyed identified eviction as a cause of

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their homelessness; and

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WHEREAS, the average direct client assistance to stabilize a household in permanent housing is
$1,500 for those experiencing financial distress; and
WHEREAS, there were estimated to be 139 evictions between December 1, 2019 and February

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29, 2020, and preventing evictions during winter months will protect the public health,

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safety, and welfare by reducing the number of individuals and families entering into

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homelessness during the wintertime, which means lowering the number of people at

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higher risk of long-term material deficits that can become barriers to rent and sustain a

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subsequent unit; and

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WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council share a goal of preventing vulnerable people from

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entering homelessness due to eviction based on non-payment of rent in winter months;

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NOW, THEREFORE,

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 Anthony Auriemma
CBO Preventing Evictions Supplemental ORD
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

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Section 1. The appropriations for the following items in the 2020 Budget are modified as
follows:
Item
1.1

Fund
General Fund
(00100)
General Fund
(00100)

Department
Finance
General
Human
Services
Department

Budget Summary Level
Appropriation to Special
Funds (BO-FG-2QA00)
Addressing Homelessness
(BO-HS-H3000)

Amount
($200,000)
$200,000

Total

$0

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Unspent funds so appropriated shall carry forward to subsequent fiscal years until they
are exhausted or abandoned by ordinance.

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The appropriations transferred to the Addressing Homelessness Budget Summary Level

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shall be used by the Human Services Department for assistance to households facing

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homelessness due to eviction between December 1 and March 1 for qualifying tenants that meet

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income eligibility criteria. The Human Services Department shall develop funding criteria and

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work with partner organizations to ensure funds are distributed to households by December 1,

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2020.

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Section 2. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, Human Services
Department, Office of Housing, and Office for Civil Rights shall evaluate:
A. Data on winter evictions in Seattle, including an analysis of causes for evictions in

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winter months, and the amount of financial assistance needed to support tenants facing eviction

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for winter months;

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B. All programs available to people in Seattle, including programs administered by the

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City, King County, and non-profit organizations, that provide financial assistance to renters

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struggling to make rent and potentially face eviction action. This evaluation should include a

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 Anthony Auriemma
CBO Preventing Evictions Supplemental ORD
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summary of what programs exist, their eligibility requirements, how funds are distributed, unmet

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need, their outreach efforts, and recommendations for how these programs can align to provide

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assistance to tenants at the right point in the process, and how these programs can expedite

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delivering needed funds to tenants during winter months to prevent evictions.

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This evaluation should be submitted to the Council’s Select Committee on Homelessness
Strategies & Investments by June 1, 2020.
Section 3. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections and Human Services

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Department shall further work to develop a landlord disclosure provision related to availability

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of winter eviction support and prevention resources. This disclosure shall include reference to

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contact information for programs that provide financial assistance to renters struggling to make

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rent and potentially face eviction. Development of options for this disclosure requirement and

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any legislation that may be necessary shall be drafted for transmittal to the City Council shall be

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completed by no later than July 1, 2020.

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Section 4. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken after its passage
and prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.

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 Anthony Auriemma
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Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by

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the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it

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shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

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Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020,

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and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of

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_________________________, 2020.

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____________________________________

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President ____________ of the City Council

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Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.

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____________________________________

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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

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Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.

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____________________________________

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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

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(Seal)

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