During our July 17 General Membership Meeting we shared some great program updates, heard from the Seattle Disabilities Commission, and learned resources for tenants in Washington from Kasey Burton of Catholic Community Services’ Tenant Law Center.
If this wealth of information is something you want to share with others or access again, please subscribe to the Coalition’s YouTube channel, where our membership meetings and trainings are collected.
Upcoming at the Coalition
Welcome Meghan!
The Coalition brought on a Summer Programs Associate, Meghan Piotrowski, to assist with our two big summer initiatives, Project Cool and voter registration.
If anyone has a program they think would benefit through voter education and registration, please contact vote[at]homelessinfo[.]org to talk about scheduling a visit by the Coalition and our team of trained volunteers. If you’re looking for voter education resources, check out our webpage with our You Don’t Need a House to be a Voter guide.
Our Project Cool needs a few more helping hands for July 29 & July 30. These are days when program coordinators from our member orgs will come pick up their backpacks orders.
All volunteer days are hosted at the Bryn Mawr Methodist Church (8016 S 116th St, Seattle, WA 98178):
- Tuesday, July 29 – backpack distribution – age 16+
- Wednesday, July 30 – backpack distribution, site cleanup, inventory – age 16+
Sign up for a volunteer shift here and email contact[at]homelessinfo[.]org if you have any questions.
Next up at the Coalition
In place of our August General Membership Meeting, we are hosting a training on Helping Homeless Students: McKinney Vento 101 on Thursday, August 21. This two-hour training will provide case managers the tools they need to understand and use the federal McKinney Vento Assistance Act, which allows certain rights to students and families experiencing homelessness so they can maintain their public school education. If you or someone you know works with families experiencing homelessness, you can register for that training here: https://bit.ly/McKV2025
Please note: We will not have an August General Membership Meeting. Please join us at our September 18 General Membership Meeting, which will feature a presentation by the Seattle/King County Street Medicine Team.
Also in September is our training on ABD/HEN Benefits: Wednesday, September 10; 9-11 a.m.; Zoom.
For South King County providers
Next month’s South King County Forum will meet in person on Wednesday, August 6 at Federal Way City Hall (33325 8th Ave S, Federal Way, 98003) from 2-3:30 p.m.
The South King County Forum is a group for staff from service providers in South King County, which is co-convened by the Coalition and the City of Federal Way.
For our August in-person convening, please limit staff representation to two (2) staff members. There will be a presentation by an agency and time for networking and resource sharing. If you have questions, please email Layelah Wilson (Layelah.Wilson[at]federalwaywa[.]gov).
To join the South King County listserv and be alerted of upcoming meetings, which occur every first Wednesday of the month, email us at contact[at]homelessinfo[.]org.
Tenant Law Updates and Resources
Covered in this presentation by Kasey Burton of Catholic Community Services Tenant Law Center are: new tenant laws that passed this past legislative session, tips for becoming a tenant again, general tips for renters, and resources. Go to 00:14:26 in the video to see Kasey’s entire presentation.
Tenant related laws that passed this year
Three major bills passed this past legislative session that impact tenants in Washington state:
- SB 5313: Ban on certain types of lease provisions – effective July 27, 2025
- HB 1003: Changes to requirements of alternative service – effective July 27, 2025
- HB 1217: Rent Stabilization – effective May 7, 2025
The Coalition mobilized people alongside the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance to help pass HB 1217 this year!
Please note: Tenants must give landlords notice if the rent increase notice doesn’t comply with the law so the landlord has a chance to correct the issue(s). Tenants can only terminate a lease AFTER they give the landlord a chance to correct any issue(s).
Becoming a tenant again
There are 700-800 evictions being filed per month in Washington state. Some important things to know for clients working on finding housing:
- Landlords must disclose screening criteria before a lease application and cannot add criteria after the process has started.
- Landlords must tell potential tenants why they are being denied in writing.
- Landlords cannot refuse to rent to someone because of where their money for rent is coming from.
- If someone has rental debt, tell them to get a copy of their tenant screening report. Reach out to whoever is holding that debt and create a payment plan.
- Any tenant considering bankruptcy should talk to a lawyer.
General Tips for Tenants
- GET IT IN WRITING!!
- Do not ignore written communications from any landlord. Should you have questions about whether or not to respond, call the Tenant Law Center: (206) 580-0762
- Keep copies of the rental agreement and proof of payments made
- The landlord has to provide a receipt if the tenant asks for it (it’s the law!)
- The landlord must allow payments to be made by physical instrument (meaning a check or money order) and include an address where payment can be mailed or delivered
- Be careful about mailing or using a drop box. Take a picture or video of the check being placed in the drop box. Consider using certified mail to send payment. Keep any money order receipts.
- The landlord also must apply money received to rent before applying to other charges, e.g. late fees.
- Landlords cannot demand that tenants pay their attorney fees without a court order. If there is no court order stating the tenant is responsible for fees and/or costs, then the landlord CANNOT charge the tenant for those amounts.
- If your client received court documents for an eviction case, they MUST submit a Notice of Appearance (NOA) by the deadline listed in the Summons and Complaint.
Resources
For legal aid and pre-eviction support
Tenant Law Center
- Phone: (206) 580-0762
- Online form
Northwest Justice Project
Eastside Legal Assistance Program
Non-Legal Resources (Seattle Only)
Seattle Dept. of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
- To file a complaint: https://www.seattle.gov/sdci/codes/make-a-property-or-building-complaint
- Renting in Seattle hotline: (206) 684-5700
Seattle Office for Civil Rights
- Call: (206) 684-4500
- https://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/complaints/file-complaint
Issue-Specific Resources
Discrimination:
- Fair Housing Center of Washington: https://fhcwashington.org/
- Human Rights Commission: https://www.hum.wa.gov/
- Disability Rights Washington: https://disabilityrightswa.org/grievance-procedure/
Debt:
- Northwest Consumer Law Center: https://nwclc.org/apply-for-help/ or call (206) 805-1722
- NJP Debt Clinic: Call (206) 707-0934 on Tuesdays between 12:00-1:00 pm
- Tenants Union debt information: https://tenantsunion.org/rights/credit-collections-faq
Repair problems:
- Contact your local code enforcement office
- Only contact them AFTER you’ve submitted your repair request in writing and the landlord ignores it
Learn More:
- Washington Law Help (guides on tenant rights): https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/
- Attend one of the webinars we do with Solid Ground: https://www.solid-ground.org/get-help/housing/for-tenants/tenant-webinars/
Time to take action!
General tips for taking action with us:
- Use your personal email, not your work email
- Personalize each message! Do it when you can and make it a habit!
Sign up for our Action Alert emails here: https://bit.ly/skccoalitionemailsignup
If you support Crisis Care Centers, email a short letter about why to CCCLevy[@]kingcounty[.]gov.
Are you ready for the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 5?
The primary election is coming up and we should all be prepared to vote! Below is a timeline of the important deadlines for registering and voting in the primary election on Tuesday, August 5. That’s only three weeks away!
- Wednesday, July 16 – Ballots mailed. (If you don’t receive your ballot by Saturday, July 19, call King County Elections at 206-296-8683)
- Thursday, July 17 – Ballot Drop Boxes open. Locate your nearest drop box: bit.ly/ballotdropboxes_KC
- Monday, July 28 – Deadline to register online/update your info online – must be received by mail by this date
- Saturday, August 2 – Neighborhood Vote Centers open. Locate your nearest Vote Center: bit.ly/votecenters_KC
- Tuesday, August 5 – Election Day!! Register in person and vote at a Voter Center until 8 p.m. Deadline to return ballots via drop-box by 8 p.m. or postmarked by USPS by 5 p.m. (no stamp needed)
Download a printable flier for of these deadlines here.
Why vote in the primaries? There are many important elections on your primary ballots this year. In Seattle, voters will decide on the top two candidates for three City Council seats, the Mayor, and City Attorney. These offices are all extremely important in shaping city policy and budgets. Primary voters will also decide if Seattle continues its Democracy Voucher program which gives eligible Seattle residents $100 to use to support campaigns of their choice.
In King County, primary voters will decide the top two candidates for two County Council seats and the King County Executive, and they will decide if King County continues its Parks Levy, which funds public parks countywide.
You can learn more about candidates here, and more about ballot measures here.
Keep in mind: Current Seattle democracy vouchers must be spent by Friday, November 28.
That’s all for July!
We hope you’ll join us for our September 18 General Membership Meeting from 9-10:30 a.m. over Zoom: https://homelessinfo.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/sept-2025-gmm