Kirkland considers ordinance to protect Section 8 tenants
KIRKLAND, Wash. - In an effort to protect against discrimination, Kirkland city officials are considering an ordinance that would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to a tenant who receives help paying for housing in the private market.
"Housing diversity is one of the council's primary housing goals," said Dawn Nelson, with Kirkland's planning department. "This is seen as another thing the city can do to assure access to housing for everyone who would like to live in Kirkland."
The city originally considered approving a similar ordinance several years ago, but it was never adopted. Since then Redmond passed its own Section 8 Housing ordinance after several national companies with properties in the city sent letters to tenants using vouchers stating their leases would not be extended due to changes in the companies' rental policies.
"The City of Redmond ended up working with those property owners and ultimately the two companies decided not to implement those policies locally," Nelson said. "Having an ordinance in place will have some effect on deterring other national companies from trying to take that stance here."
Under the ordinance, landlords would be prohibited from refusing to rent property to a tenant solely based on their use of a Section 8 Housing Voucher. Nelson said that does not mean an applicant can never be turned away, especially if the landlord has established a set of rental guidelines that do not meet the rental guidelines of the Section 8 Housing program.
The King County Housing Authority (KCHA) oversees the area's Section 8 Housing Voucher program, providing rental assistance to residents with the highest need. The tenant pays no more than 40 percent of their household income toward rent and utilities, and KCHA pays the difference.
Due to the sheer demand for Section 8 Housing Vouchers, the ordinance Kirkland is proposing makes sense, according to KCHA.
"We think that anything that encourages adherence to fair housing guidelines and prevents discrimination is a good thing," said Rhonda Rosenberg, director of communications for KCHA.
Currently, there are 400 households in Kirkland using Section 8 Vouchers, of these 20 percent are elderly, 25 percent have a family member with a disability, and 55 percent are families with children.
"We want to make sure once someone gets a voucher they don't encounter problems being able to use them in the market place," Rosenberg said.
Nelson said Seattle and Bellevue already have similar Section 8 Housing Voucher ordinances on the books.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance is scheduled for March 19, inside Kirkland City Hall. The City Council will take public input during the meeting and could vote on the ordinance. The public hearing portion of the meeting will start around 7:30 p.m.
Its a shame of the misconceptions associated with HUD's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Admittedly I too had similar thoughts up until about 10 years ago. Over the years, I have learned, the section 8 direct deposit is never late and there are no excuses. I think the proposed legislation is a good thing for Kirkland.
My new insight comes from the lens now as a property owner and landlord. All of the horror stories and stereotypes have eluded me. I have 14 property locations with a total of 39 units. Tenants receiving a section 8 subsidy via KCHA or Seattle Housing total 7. None of my units would be mistaken for a slum unit(s) with rents ranging from 900 to 2400 monthly depending on number of BR's. Each rental applicant must be able to qualify credit wise the same as any other prospective tenant. Equally I do not wave a giant flag specifically looking for section 8 folks but accept their applications.
Each household pays a predetermined amount which is a portion of the total rent based on a formula and the remainder is paid by the housing authority. My section 8 tenants have all been excellent tenants. Mostly working folks with lower paying jobs like McDonalds, retail clerks, office worker etc.
One tenant in particular who has been with us for 7 or 8 years. As I recall this tenant's payment was less than 10 dollars and they worked a low pay entry level job. Currently their portion of the rent has dramatically increased to almost a thousand dollars for a unit with housing picking up about $400. This due to them getting a decent job with a local utility. My understanding the assistance continues, although a small amount to provide a safety net as this family picks them-self up
Everybody should know the criteria to receive section 8 has become strict over the years. Anybody with DV, theft, drug or alcohol felony related crimes are prohibited.Â
I am very grateful to those with section 8 who have allowed me to be their landlord. Looking back a few years ago when the housing market was upside down, it was the section 8 tenants that saved our hide. My non-section 8 occupied units had some turnover when tenants were getting laid-off, loosing jobs and having to break their lease.
@BuddyHollyI am posting your comment on our Facebook page and Twitter.. just wanted you to know. https://www.facebook.com/Section8HudHomes and https://twitter.com/s8hh if this is a problem let me know and I will delete it.
@BuddyHolly I too am a landlord.  And based on your comments, I have trouble believing you are.  But let's just examine your final paragraph's first sentence...
"I am very grateful to those with section 8 who have allowed me to be their landlord."
This is irrelevant to the proposed law. Â The bill is to no longer give you the choice. Â Without it (which is the current case), you could still choose to rent to them. Â In fact, you should be against the bill if you aren't lying, because then there will be fewer options for section 8 users and you can increase your ratio of them more easily.
To me, this bill is another form of seizing my property, paid for with my labor, to give to others.
THE problem with the 1964 Civil Rights Act is that it applies to the private sector, we no longer have freedom of association, freedom to contract. Only slum lords would rent to section 8 folks because they know what condition it will be in within weeks. Look at the government housing remodeling continually.
What I see here is just another intrusion of the government on the rights of property owners.
Ah, Washington state/King County... Always coming up with yet more ways to help those that won't help themselves. Oh, I'm sure there are some Section 8s that don't fit that type, but where? Honestly, I do believe they cause more problems than anything. When you don't have to pay your way in life you flat out don't care about taking care of things. I've seen it happen. Sad that the rest of us have to pay the price (in so many ways).
Luckily - There is no way to proove why exactly you got denied.
"...the city can do to assure access to housing for everyone who would like to live in Kirkland."
When did it become if you want to live somewhere the government will help you.  I want to live in Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, Montana and Indiana, but I can't I either I can't afford it or there isn't work for me there.  The low income and section 8 just extends the problem. So things are to expensive so instead of leaving those places empty and the rent coming down till people can afford it the government subsidizes it. If they fill up with people who can afford them then they aren't to high and you need to look elsewhere or increase your income don't look to the government to make up the differences.  These programs hurt those that aren't poor enough to be in the program, but not well off enough to afford these places by keeping them high as the government is covering the cost.
The problem is the attitudes of some of those that use section 8... basically they don't care about anything..
I have seen the negative affects on some apartment complexes that started accepting section 8 housing. The appearance declined, and it became a place I would not rent from.. Really, there isn't any reason for it, however it does happen. There is a stereotype that section 8 recipients are just looser freeloader types. Some are, and some aren't those types..