About the Policies

While renters make up nearly half of the population in King County, renters do not have sufficient protections against being pushed out of their homes without reason. This increases homelessness and displaces Black, brown, and Indigenous communities. The Stay Housed Stay Healthy coalition fights for policies that undo these power imbalances in landlord-tenant law throughout King County.

The pandemic has exacerbated the existing renting crisis, pushing thousands of us into rental debt and widening the wealth gap. It’s abundantly clear that health and housing are inextricably linked. To get back on our feet we must win policies that treat housing as a basic need and undo practices that harm communities of color and low-income families. 

Our coalition formed in early 2021, bringing together dozens of organizations working in communities around King County. We successfully advocated for local eviction moratoriums and other emergency protections, while also pushing for stronger permanent renter protections. Among other legislative victories, in July 2021, the King County Council passed a strong package of renter protections for unincorporated areas of the county including Skyway and White Center. 

In 2022, the coalition has continued working in cities around King County to establish a baseline of protections that all renters can count on. You can read more here about the policies we are advocating for. After hearing testimony from struggling renters and community members, five King County cities have taken actions to strengthen permanent renter protections in 2022: