Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Will you take a minute to stand up for justice?
Help Build the Movement for Tenants Rights: Join the Tenants Union!
Washington State tenants have won important legal protections, but these rights don't go far enough. Help build the movement to protect and expand tenants rights and make the promise of safe, healthy, affordable housing a reality: 
Will you tell your Senator to do the right thing?
“I didn’t know it was going to be this difficult,” she said. “I got a message from a manager who said, ‘I accept small dogs but absolutely no Section 8.’ I just felt like scum. They’ll accept Fancey, our Pomeranian, but not us.” – Reba Masterjohn, section 8 renter as quoted in the 5-7-07 Seattle Times.
Did you know that it is still legal for a landlord to discriminate against a person just because they use a section 8 voucher or SSI to make ends meet?
Renters and homeowners in Washington face an affordable housing crisis, and families are being forced to make choices between seeing the doctor or paying the rent. Yet Washington’s landlords are still allowed to discriminate against low-income tenants. Some landlords even prevent people from applying for housing just because of their source of income. This kind of discrimination adds an unnecessary and unfair obstacle to good tenants who are just trying to find a place to live.
EHB 1956 will provide all renters equal opportunity to apply for housing by outlawing discrimination based on a renter’s source of income. It’s time for Washington to join the 12 other states and countless cities across the country and stamp out this form of discrimination.
This important legislation passed the State House by a large margin, but State Senator in the 48th Legislative District, Senator Rodney Tom (Democrat – Medina) is now blocking the bill in the Senate. If you live in Bellevue, Medina, Redmond, or Kirkland, please call Senator Tom today.
Senator Tom needs to hear from more voters in his district who believe fairness and equal opportunity should be the law in Washington’s housing market. Please call him before 12:30 on Friday to ask him to “Support EHB 1956 and offer an amendment to let it out of committee before Friday.” Please call him directly at 1-360-786-7694 or email him at tom.rodney@leg.wa.gov. You can also make a toll free call (before Friday) by calling 1-800-562-6000.
If don’t live in the Eastside, please call your Senator today to ask them to ask Senator Tom to stop blocking this bill, “Please support EHB 1956 to outlaw discrimination based on a renter’s source of income and please ask Senator Tom to let the bill out of committee.” You can leave a message for your senator for free at 1-800-562-6000 or email them: lastname.firstname@leg.wa.gov.
Don’t know who your senator is? Ask when you call the toll free number above or go to www.leg.wa.gov.
Please call Michele at 206-722-6848, ext 114 to learn more about this bill.