Mayor Ed Murray today issued the following statement after City Council adopted tenant protection legislation banning discrimination on income source:
“One of the key recommendations of the HALA committee was for the City to address barriers that our most vulnerable residents face when finding a home to rent,” said Mayor Murray. “The legislation we introduced this spring expanded fair housing protections for renters using subsidies or other sources of income. Thank you to City Council for approving this proposal—our seniors, veterans, working parents will now be able to use their protected benefits towards renting a home.”
In April of 2016, Mayor Murray sent a legislative proposal to City Council expanding civil rights protection to renters with legal and verifiable non-wage sources of income as one step to address the growing affordability crisis in Seattle. The proposal was a recommendation of the Housing Affordability Living Agenda.