But I don’t WANT to rent to sex offenders, crackheads, violent abusers or people convicted of drug dealing. However I may soon have too, and so might YOU if you own a rental property in Seattle or even just want to rent out a room in your home. The Mayor’s Office through the Seattle Civil Rights Office is reviewing adding People with Arrest and Conviction Records to the Protected Class Status in regards to housing and employment. Washington State law already restricts Landlords and employers from gaining knowledge of criminal activity in which the perpetrator has been 7 years out of jail.
Seattle currently includes these protected classes:
Age
Ancestry
Color
Creed
Disability
Gender identity
Marital status
National Origin
Parental status
Political ideology
Race
Religion
Sex
Sexual orientation
Use of a Section 8 certificate
Use of a service animal
Military status or Veteran
I believe there are only two jurisdictions in the USA that have similar protections for criminals and they are both in one Mid-Western state. Could Seattle become the city of choice for just released felons? Should Seattle Landlords and “mom and pop” small businesses be responsible for transitional housing and employment for convicted felons, or is that something best left to the government, who can also provide the counseling if needed.
I support fair housing for all, but how fair is it to the single mother who moved into my apartment 2 years ago now being forced to share a wall with a violent felon fresh out of Monroe or San Quentin?
This should not be just an issue Landlords are interested in but also those who may want to rent out a backyard cottage, or the mother-in-law unit in the basement of their home. Also, those who live in apartments who were comforted by the fact their Landlord does do criminal background checks on all applicants.
Finally, if criminals are to become a protected class wouldn’t that really diminish the viability of those listed above who truly are in need of protected class status?
A second Community Forum to discuss this important issue will be held on:
Wednesday, March 16, 6 – 8 pm
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue
Bertha Knight Landes Room
Draft language of the proposal will be available at least two weeks prior to the forum at www.seattle.gov/civilrights.
