News

Job Announcement: Operations Coordinator, apps due June 7th

Job Opening at the Tenants Union! The Operations Coordinator assists the Executive Director in maintaining financial and grant compliance, provides a support role to our Board, assists with membership communication, logistical planning for our Annual Meeting, and ensures smooth operations. Applications due June 7th, click to read more!

Have You Gotten Help from the Tenants Union? Make a donation TODAY and it will be increased!

If you have gotten help from the TU, please take a moment to make a gift through GiveBIG today and it will be increased by the Seattle Foundation! The TU is working to build power with renters all over the state and has been providing tenant education, organizing, and advocacy for over 35 years. Click on the yellow “Donate Now” button above. Thank you!

South Lake Union: a Neighborhood For All Families?

TU leaders and staff have been working with Puget Sound Sage and other groups to emphasize the need for affordable housing as Seattle, including South Lake Union, undergoes development and the rent goes steadily higher, displacing low income renters. The TU wants to make sure low income renters are included in South Lake Union and that the City is doing enough to stem the landslide loss of affordable housing in the greater downtown area. Read on for information on how to take action.

WE WON TWO STEPS FORWARD for TENANT RIGHTS IN ONE WEEK!

Victories for Housing Justice: This week we’ve won gains in affordable housing and access to housing… but it’s only the beginning!

Click here for more details.

Governor Inslee Signs Fair Tenant Screening Act Pt. II into Law!

After years of advocacy Part II of the Fair Tenant Screening Act was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee, a critical bill to protect domestic violence survivors escape abuse and access safe housing free from discrimination.

Contact Seattle City Council to Expand Affordable Housing!

The Seattle City Council will vote next week to strengthen zoning laws to create more affordable housing in South Lake Union, but current proposals only create units in the hundreds when the need is in the thousands.
Act now to demand stronger affordable housing requirements!

Take Action to Oppose Anti-Tenant Bills!

12 anti-tenant bills were introduced this session threatening tenants’ rights. Collectively these bills would have stripped tenants of due process and made it easier for landlords to evict over arbitrary and excessive fees, hamper safeguards against carbon monoxide poisoning, empower landlords to arrest your guests or void your verbal agreements, and much more. Take action now!

Take Action Now to Pass Fair Tenant Screening Act! And Oppose Anti-Tenant Bills!

Senate cut-off is this Wednesday to pass the Fair Tenant Screening Act to protect domestic violence survivors, and block 4 anti-tenant bills that collectively will strip tenants of due process by allowing landlords to evict over arbitrary and excessive fees, empower landlords to arrest your guests or void your verbal rental agreement, and much more. Act Now!

Action Alert for Kirkland: Tell City Council to Stop Discrimination!

If you are a Kirkland resident take a stand for civil rights and ask the Kirkland City Council to pass a critical law prohibiting source of income discrimination. The proposal would end the practice of stereotyping tenants for their participation in the Section 8 voucher program, which is a routine and legal means for landlords to deny housing to the most low-income residents. Follow the link to take action!

TU Hiring Spokane-based Section 8 Community Organizer

The Tenants Union of Washington State seeks a creative, engaging, and thoughtful part-time community organizer to play a key role in a very exciting statewide effort to organize tenants in project-based Section 8 buildings. The Spokane-based STOP Community Organizer uses outreach, education, organizing, and tenant leadership development to preserve affordable housing, win housing improvements, and increase tenant control over housing. Campaign work may focus on the preservation of building subsidies, the rehabilitation of deteriorating buildings, the formation of tenant councils, and other strategic goals that support tenants having a place at the decision-making table. The most important aspect of this work will be to cultivate tenant leadership and community through education and leadership development.