Landlord-Tenant Accountability and Conference on Substance Use and Recovery

King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/03/2024 03:57 PM PDT

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King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn

Your Weekly Update on What's Happening at the King County Council  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Following an outcry from mom-and-pop landlords facing exorbitant financial burdens, I recently introduced legislation that would restrict King County funding to the controversial Housing Justice Project and ask for an audit of its operations. I am hopeful that my legislation will spur King County to bring accountability to Housing Justice Project programs and stop ill-intended crooks from continuing to exploit eviction prevention aid.

I have heard many complaints that free legal representation provided by Housing Justice Project, which is intended to help people who are being unfairly evicted, is instead being weaponized against law-abiding landlords and unjustly forcing them to pay not only for many months of legal representation, but also back rent, utilities, and damages to their property. Without acting to put more oversight measures in place, I’m very concerned that these aid programs will continue to be abused by bad actors who are gaming the system—such as the case of the serial squatter refusing to vacate a $2 million home in Bellevue, or the case of the tenant in Seattle whose nonpayment of rent caused the property owner to become homeless, even as the tenant was renting out that very home on Airbnb and taking in income. The fact that this is being done with taxpayer dollars makes it even worse.

You can read more about my legislation here. I will continue to keep you updated as this legislation moves through the Council, and encourage you to reach out to me at reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov if you have your own experience with the Housing Justice Project to share.

All my best,
Councilmember Reagan Dunn Signature

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

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