SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council voted 5-2 to expand the city’s eviction prevention program on Monday night.
According to the city, this new ordinance will streamline the process for tenants to access eviction prevention funds. It will also require landlords to provide tenants with written notice of all eviction prevention programs in the city at the line of leasing and whenever a tenant is served with a notice to pay or vacate.
The ordinance will also establish a more permanent eviction prevention program overseen by Community Health and Human Services. The city says this program would streamline access to state funding, rebuild the landlord-tenant relationship, and connect tenants and landlords with service providers who can intervene early in the eviction process.
“In the last two years of doorbelling and interacting with neighborhood councils and community members, I have heard over and over–the community wants us to invest seriously in preventing homelessness,” said Council Member Kitty Klitzke. “It is the most cost-effective method to address the number of unhoused in our city. I am excited to work with housing providers to prevent people from losing their housing when they could have taken advantage of local programs.”
“Thank you to all the stakeholders, staff, and my Council colleagues for making Eviction Prevention permanent,” said Council Member Paul Dillon. “I hope this program becomes a model for other cities to follow, as it is a win-win for tenants and landlords. As we confront increased housing insecurity, we must do all we can to make sure families have a roof over their heads.”
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