Seattle mayor extends city’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium to September
Jun 18, 2021, 12:43 PM
A man walks past a city-sanctioned homeless encampment of micro-homes and tents in front of apartments and condos in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Friday that she is extending the city’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium until Sept. 30.
The eviction moratorium was first put into place in March 2020, in hopes of helping those who lost their jobs because of the pandemic and were unable to pay rent. The Seattle Times says this is the fifth extension Durkan has ordered.
A statewide moratorium remains in place, currently set to expire on June 30. Governor Inslee says he knows it’s urgent, but said Thursday he was not ready to announce if the eviction moratorium will be extended past June 30 in Washington.
“I can tell you we are very aware of the gap between the current termination of the order and the standing up of the relief for tenants and landlords,” Inslee said. “That’s a significant gap.”
Gov. Inslee says lots of talk, no decision yet on extending eviction moratorium
This week, Kirkland and Kenmore extended their eviction moratoriums to Sept. 30. Kent, Burien, and Bellevue are considering similar moves.
According to Solid Ground — a Seattle-based group that provides resources and services to tenants in need — the conclusion of the state’s eviction moratorium could have wide-ranging, dire consequences. It cited data cited from a U.S. Census survey between April 28 and May 10 that indicates roughly 82,500 people in the Greater Seattle area are behind on rent.
Find more details about Seattle’s eviction moratorium online here.
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