SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council voted 5-2 tonight to pass an ordinance that shields renters from eviction during emergencies if they experience a loss of more than 10% of their monthly income. Qualifying renters will receive a 12-month grace period to repay missed rental payments.
The ordinance was created in direct response to the Spokane complex fires, which damaged or destroyed over 850 structures. According to city data, 30% of those affected properties were occupied by renters, leaving hundreds of residents vulnerable to displacement.
The measure takes effect immediately and provides relief to renters financially impacted by the fires. Beyond the current emergency, the ordinance establishes a permanent program that can be activated during future natural disasters and public health emergencies that threaten community safety and cause displacement.
Tenant advocacy organizations testified at tonight’s meeting, emphasizing the critical need for renter protections during crises. Representatives from three organizations highlighted how quickly financial hardship can escalate into homelessness without safeguards in place.
“Losing a job, being unable to go to work, being evacuated, or losing income can happen through no fault of a tenant. But without protections, a temporary financial crisis can easily become an eviction, and an eviction can easily lead to homelessness,” one advocate said during the meeting.
Another representative from the advocacy community praised the council’s decision to incorporate permanent protections into the ordinance. “While it is important to address this current emergency, we are pleased that the council voted to incorporate a permanent program in this ordinance so that it can be used in future natural disasters and public health emergencies that threaten community safety and cause displacement,” the advocate stated.
The majority of council members sided with the tenant advocates. However, two council members voted against the measure, citing concerns about its implementation and potential impact on landlords and small businesses.
Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Councilman Michael Cathcart were the dissenters. Both acknowledged the importance of assisting renters affected by the fires but raised questions about the ordinance’s long-term implications.
Cathcart expressed concern that the ordinance provided no flexibility for future councils if an emergency was declared but the ordinance was deemed unnecessary or potentially harmful to small businesses and landlords. Wilkerson shared similar concerns, noting that the measure could place property owners in difficult financial positions if their tenants were unable to pay rent.
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