Preservation, Equity, and Anti-Displacement
Preservation + Anti-Displacement Strategies
- Strategic acquisition & financing of existing multi-family housing (OH)
- Engage private owners with new financing tools & technical assistance (OH)
- Mitigate City code requirements of unreinforced masonry buildings,
- Rental Inspection Ordinance (URM/RRIO) (SDCI / OH)
- Pursue local preservation property tax exemption (OH)
- Create a low-cost rehab loan/shallow subsidy program (OH)
- Notice of Intent to Sell / Sale Ordinance (OH)
Homeownership
- Interest Free Financing Report, completed May 2016
- Programs to prevent displacement of low-income homeowners
- Expand downpayment assistance program
- Increase homeownership opportunities, culturally appropriate education
Tenant Protections
- Strengthen Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance (TRAO) // Passed October 2015 (SDCI)
- Increase tenant counseling and landlord education funding (CBO / SDCI)
- Increase access to housing for people with criminal records (OCR)
- Expand anti-discrimination protections to tenants with alternative sources of income, passed City Council August 2016 (Ordinance)
- Impact of housing costs on protected classes (HSD)
- Allow for local portability of tenant screening reports (OH)
- During the 2016 state legislative session, a bill passed that defines tenant screening reports and requires landlords to state whether or not they accept portable reports. The new law also gives tenants the ability to remove certain eviction records from a screening report through a court order, if the tenant prevailed or there was not good cause to evict the tenant. This law does apply to property owners in Seattle.
- Expansion of rental/operating subsidies for lowest income households (SDCI)
- Strengthen Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance (RRIO) (SDCI)