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Supporters urge 14-day eviction-notice bill; landlords warn of added burdens
Summary
At a public hearing on expedited Bill 31-25, advocates, county staff and residents urged extending the eviction-notice period from 6 to 14 days to prevent homelessness; some housing providers warned of administrative burdens and coordination issues.
The council heard testimony Oct. 28 on expedited Bill 31-25, which would require landlords to provide tenants 14 days' notice before executing an eviction and add related notification and coordination steps.
Christine Hong, chief of Services to End and Prevent Homelessness at the county Department of Health and Human Services, testified in support and said the extra time would allow county programs to intervene with rental assistance or relocation help. Hong cited county point-in-time counts showing large increases in homelessness and argued prevention matters: "We must do everything we can to prevent more people from losing their housing."
Carolyn Burns, representing the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, said the idea behind the bill is "good and just," but raised operational concerns about added requirements on housing providers and how eviction scheduling is coordinated with the sheriff's office and DHCA.
Multiple residents, shelter providers and community advocates described the trauma of short-notice evictions and urged expedited passage. Harold Hill and Lukman Safe offered first-hand accounts and said 14 days would allow time to contact services, secure storage and make relocation arrangements.
Ending: The public hearing closed with clear support from housing and homeless-services advocates and mixed feedback from housing-provider representatives. The PHP committee scheduled follow-up work sessions; council action will depend on committee recommendations and any amendments to operational provisions.
