Seattle City Council Could Make it Easier for Those with Criminal Records to Find Housing

The Seattle City Council will consider an expansion of the Fair Chance Housing ordinance, which would include housing options for those with criminal records – a barrier that impacts many people of color. The legislation, which exempts small landlords, would limit the role of criminal records in the tenant screening process, including arrests that didn’t lead to a conviction, records that have been expunged, vacated or sealed and juvenile records. Landlords who exclude someone based on criminal record would be required to provide business justification for doing so. More than a quarter of people in King County are black, compared to six percent of the general population. One in five people become homeless after leaving prison. The Fair Accessible Renting for Everyone (FARE) is a good start in eliminating criminal convictions in tenant screening.

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Posted Under: Tenant Screening

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