The Olympia, OR City Council advanced a package of new tenant protections aimed at reducing housing barriers and supporting renters. The proposed ordinance would introduce reforms to tenant screening practices. It would also prohibit landlords from rejecting applicants if they do not provide a social security number or from inquiring about an applicant’s lawful presence in the U.S. The recommendation is that alternative documentation be allowed to verify the identity and financial eligibility of an applicant, such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or Certificate of Naturalization (INS I-550).
