COVID-19 response prompts another $86.2M Emergency Funding Measure
COVID-19 response prompts another $86.2M Emergency Funding Measure
Tue, 06/23/2020
The King County Council on Tuesday passed new legislation protecting tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. The ordinance, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Girmay Zahilay, and Jeanne Kohl-Welles, extends protections to residential tenants, including manufactured homeowners, and small commercial tenants in unincorporated King County.
When Washington closed all non-essential businesses in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, many King County residents suddenly found themselves without a job. King County residents filed over 398,000 new unemployment claims between March 1 and June 13. While Gov. Jay Inslee signed an eviction moratorium to prevent immediate loss of housing, tenants and advocates have expressed fear of a wave of evictions when the moratorium ends.
“While the governor’s moratorium headed off an imminent avalanche of evictions, we are still at risk of hundreds or thousands of families losing their homes once the moratorium ends,” Balducci said. “The intention of this ordinance is to give people impacted by COVID-19 an opportunity to catch up on rent and stay in their homes. Along with the additional funding for direct rental assistance we passed today, this measure will help keep families from sliding into homelessness due to forces beyond their control.”
Modeled on similar legislation already passed in the city of Seattle, the ordinance provides residential tenants with a defense to eviction if an unlawful detainer (eviction) action is based on the tenant's failure to pay rent, if the nonpayment was because of circumstances occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The defense to eviction will be available to residential tenants if the eviction was initiated because of unpaid rent that was due before or by March 1, 2021. The second protection allows a residential or small commercial tenant who fails to pay rent due before or by March 1, 2021 to pay the overdue rent on a reasonable repayment plan if the nonpayment was because of circumstances occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides an additional defense to eviction if a landlord does not offer a reasonable repayment plan.
“This ordinance centers on the principle that housing is a human right and as such it’s an important measure in protecting that right” Kohl-Welles said. “This legislation is critical in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic with many of our residents not having adequate resources to pay their rent. However, we have many more steps to take to ensure King County residents have accessible, affordable and stable housing. I look forward to continuing this important work with my colleagues and community partners that have been advocating and organizing on these issues long before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The King County Council has approved a third round of emergency funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adopted unanimously Tuesday afternoon, the $86.2 million supplemental omnibus budget provides funding for a variety of programs, headlined by a $21 million increase for food security, rental assistance, homeless services and a variety of measures to boost social programs and address structural racism. The budget also includes millions to support digital equity in K-12 schools and further invest in behavioral health issues that have skyrocketed during the pandemic. The proposal also includes a provision to supply Metro buses with face masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. A full copy of the budget is attached.
“Because of COVID-19, families, communities, workers and businesses across King County are hurting health wise, emotionally and financially,” said King County Council Budget Chair Jeanne Kohl-Welles. “This spending package is aimed at providing relief to their urgent needs and from the economic fallout caused by the pandemic. It also will help position our County to bounce back once the crisis is behind us. And, importantly, the funding is targeted to support historically disadvantaged communities that have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic – an important step to take if we are to dismantle and disrupt racism in our communities once and for all. And, our work is not yet finished. We will take up another COVID-focused budget in August to help with urgent needs being faced by our residents, workers and businesses during this tumultuous time.”
The Council first approved $27.4 million in the first COVID-19 emergency funding measure in March and another $62.9 million was approved in mid-May. As with prior measures, King County expects much of the emergency spending to be reimbursed by state and federal funds.
Additional quotes:
Council Chair Claudia Balducci:
“I’m proud that in this emergency supplemental budget, we are striking the right balance to prudently reserve essential funds to maintain our ongoing COVID-19 public health response, while also supporting families across King County who need roofs over their heads and food on the table to weather this unprecedented crisis.”
Councilmember Rod Dembowski:
“This supplemental budget prioritizes emergency health, housing and food security investments in response to COVID-19. I thank our federal delegation for its hard work to secure these funds. They have proven essential to combat the pandemic and address its economic impacts.”
Councilmember Kathy Lambert:
“The COVID-19 relief funding approved today makes crucial investments in the community that will help us all as we continue to feel the impacts of this pandemic. I am very proud of the funding allocated in this budget that will be used to increase internet access for students throughout the county, support agriculture in our region, help provide legal assistance to those in need, assist the brave survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and so much more as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. I trust that this funding will be used effectively to assist our community during this difficult time.”
Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer:
“I am pleased that today’s emergency budget will provide millions of dollars to help address food insecurity, particularly in South King County. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring people have access to food has been my top priority.”
Councilmember Reagan Dunn:
"As our region continues to fight against COVID-19, the needs in our communities continue to grow. Today’s budget releases funds to sustain King County's pandemic response, assist those who are most impacted, and support our community partners who continue to serve the health and safety of our residents in this challenging time.”
