Seattle Halts Residential Evictions During Coronavirus Outbreak

SEATTLE, WA — Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed an emergency order Saturday putting a temporary moratorium on evictions in the city, in an effort to keep residents from losing their homes amid the economic downturn caused by the region's novel coronavirus outbreak.

Effective immediately, the 30-day moratorium will suspend any residential evictions for non-payment or partial payment of rent, according to an announcement from the mayor's office. It also bars late fees and any other charges stemming from late rent payment.

In recent weeks, a cohort of labor and advocacy groups, as well as Councilmember Kshama Sawant, have called on Durkan to stop evictions for residents as well as small businesses.

Saturday's announcement by the mayor's office was issued in tandem with Councilmembers M. Lorena González and Teresa Mosqueda.

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Seattle joins several other cities, including Miami and Baltimore, to pause evictions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Cities including New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are in the process of passing similar bans.

"Too many families are already struggling, and COVID-19 virus has disproportionately affected the communities who can least afford it," Durkan said in a statement. "As we take steps to slow the spread of the virus across Seattle’s communities, a part of that response is to ensure that families are not displaced and forced into homelessness."

Among the contributing factors listed in the order is a "50% drop in the number of tenants appearing in court for their eviction hearings in King County" within the last two weeks, as more Seattle residents retreat indoors during the outbreak.

The order also cited widespread layoffs at businesses around Seattle, caused by the precipitous drop in customers in recent weeks.

Last week, Durkan said the city will help residents pay utility bills to avoid having their electricity or water shut off during the outbreak.

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