Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Spokane council approves eviction-diversion ordinance after hours of testimony, 5–2
Summary
After more than an hour of public testimony from tenants, attorneys and landlords, Spokane City Council adopted Ordinance C-36-808, a pathways-to-eviction-prevention measure that requires notification and referral to rental-assistance programs and adds a 30-day diversion window before certain eviction filings; the ordinance passed 5–2 amid debate over funding and administrative burden.
Spokane City Council voted to adopt Ordinance C-36-808, dubbed the Pathways to Eviction Prevention ordinance, following extensive public testimony and a multi-hour council debate. The ordinance formalizes a process to provide tenants facing nonpayment of rent with referral information and a 30-day window intended to connect households to rental-assistance programs before an eviction filing proceeds. The council approved the measure 5–2.
Supporters told the council the ordinance would prevent homelessness and reduce legal costs by connecting tenants to assistance and legal counsel earlier in the eviction timeline. "This ordinance will prevent evictions. It will expedite resolution, and that helps our entire community, landlords and tenants alike," said Hannah Swenson, managing attorney of the Housing Justice Project, who described frequent cases in which late assistance arrived too late to prevent an eviction. Tenant attorneys and advocates described clients who lost housing after…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
