05/09/05

Governor Christine Gregoire Signs "Slumlord Accountability Act"!

On Tuesday, May 10th, at 9am Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire will sign HSSB 5577 into law. The legislation will ensure that relocation assistance is provided to tenants who are forced from their homes when they are shut down due to dangerous and unhealthy conditions.

04/20/05

One Last Action to Make "Slumlord Act" Law

Thanks to calls and emails from TU members, our Relocation Bill has passed the State House and State Senate and is very, very close to becoming a new State law. The last step is the signature of Governor Gregoire and we are asking you to make one last call or email to ask her to sign the bill in its entirety.

04/07/05

Victory: Relocation Assistance Passes the House!

On April 7th, the State House of Representatives passed our Relocation Assistance Bill by a vote of 82 – 14! This is a major victory for tenants in Washington State. The Olympian covers the news.

04/05/05

Urgent Action: Call Both Your Representatives Today

Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and tell your Representatives to Vote Yes on HSSB 5577 to require slumlords to pay for the relocation costs of their tenants. Your call is vital to get this important bill passed. Please call as soon as possible.

03/09/05

Urgent Action Required on Relocation Assistance Bill in State House

Thanks to phone calls and other efforts by Tenants Union members, our Relocation Assistance Bill passed out of the State Senate Tuesday afternoon! The next step is a vote in the State House—very likely this week.We need your calls to State Reps: dial 1-800-562-6000 and tell them to vote YES on HSSB 5577, but no on any amendment which would restrict tenants’ rights.

03/08/05

Relocation Assistance Passes the Senate!

The State Senate voted today to pass our Tenant Relocation Assistance Legislation. The vote was unanimous (48 to 0, with 1 Senator excused). This is a major victory in our fight to pass relocation assistance!

02/24/05

News Flash: Tenant Relocation Bill Passes Out of House and Senate Housing Committee

On February 24th, the Relocation Assistance bill passed out of the Senate committee. A week earlier, it passed out of the House committee. Now is the time to call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and ask them to support this important legislation.

02/24/05

The Olympian Supports Tenant Relocation Bill

An editorial in today’s edition of The Olympian offers strong support of the Tenant Relocation Assistance Bill. backed by the Tenants Union and a coalition of other groups.

02/08/05

Tenants Union Members Lobby in Olympia for Relocation Assistance

Last Thursday, Tenants Union members and staff joined hundreds of other housing activists in Olympia for 2005’s Housing Advocacy Day. The TU’s tenant lobbyists met with their legislators to ask them to support our Tenant Relocation Assistance Legislation.

View Pictures from Housing Advocacy Day 2005

02/07/05

House Housing Committee to Hear Testimony on "Slumlord Accountability Act"

The House Housing Committee will hear testimony tomorrow to support passage of HB 1583/SB 5577. The legislation would give cities and counties an effective tool to prevent housing deterioration and protect families displaced by substandard conditions. Senate Committee to hear testimony Wednesday at 3:30, in Cherburg, Hearing Rm 2

02/04/05

King County Journal Reports on Relocation Bill

Yesterday’s edition of the King County Journal includes a long article entitled Tenants organization lobbies for bill requiring relocation assistance statewide. The article explains the details of the Tenant Relocation legislation the TU is pushing in this year’s legislative session, and extensively quotes Tenants Union Organizer Michele Thomas on the merits of the legislation.

01/20/05

Welcome in the New Year by standing up for Tenants’ Rights

You can take action today to support the passage of important Washington State legislation that will require slumlords to pay for the moving costs of tenants who are forced to relocate due to the landlord’s neglect. Contact your State Reps and State Senators and tell them to stand up for Tenant Relocation Assistance.

01/01/05

Information about our Relocation Assistance Legislation

The Tenants Union of Washington State and other organizations, including Columbia Legal Services and the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance, are working together to create legislation that will create relocation assistance for tenants forced to move when their housing is shut down due to the landlord’s neglect.