Coronavirus Update March 22, 2021

In King County, we’ve been experiencing a dip in the rate of COVID-19 spread until about two weeks ago where we are now seeing about an 18% increase in cases particularly for those in their 20’s and 30’s. The data shows that the increase in outbreaks has come predominantly from restaurants, bars, and travel. This isn’t great news considering we are now officially in Phase three of Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery plan. In phase three indoor activities can now be at 50%, bars and restaurants can stay open until midnight, and large events like graduations and sports are now allowed in a limited capacity. The Governor also signed a proclamation requiring in-person education for public K-12 schools. Even with the fairly rapid rate of vaccination, we are going to continue to see potentially avoidable deaths here in Washington. 

Next Phase of Vaccine Eligibility

We are currently in Phase 1B tier 2 of vaccine distribution moving into the next two tiers starting March 31st. The new phase of vaccine eligibility includes everyone from previous tiers plus the addition of restaurant workers,  anyone with 2 or more comorbidities, Washingtonians 60 and older, as well as anyone living and working in a congregate setting, which brings us to about 5 million Washingtonians becoming eligible. To register head to the state’s phase finder tool to verify eligibility and get a link to find a vaccination center near you.

Although it has felt frustrating to wait on the different phases a recent study shows that states that did not take a measured approach are actually seeing lower rates of vaccination. The huge surge in demand caused major technical and operational hurdles, such as crashing websites and busy phone lines, that ultimately slowed the rate. Washington is currently 25th in the nation for full vaccination percentages with the top slots going to Palau, New Mexico, Alaska, Mariana Islands, and South Dakota. Currently the worst-performing states are Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, D.C. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Micronesia, and Utah. 

Statewide Eviction Moratorium will be extended through June 30th

Last week Governor Jay Inslee announced that the statewide eviction moratorium will be extended through June 30th. Since the beginning of the pandemic, most renters have been able to hold onto their housing whether or not they have the ability to pay. In regards to Seattle, the Mayor’s Moratorium was extended earlier this month as well. 

Both the Governor and the Mayor continue to extend eviction moratoriums because they do make a significant impact on the state’s death rate. According to one recent study, “policies that limit evictions are found to reduce COVID-19 infections by 3.8% and reduce deaths by 11%.” The reason is straightforward: “Housing precarity … reduces a person’s ability to abide by social distancing orders and comply with hygiene recommendations.”

So what does this moratorium mean for renters? 

Statewide the moratorium bars property owners from evicting tenants for anything other than the sale of the home or in the event of a health and safety claim. In the City of Seattle Landlords are not allowed to evict even if they are selling the home. Landlords are also unable to add interest charges. If renters are unable to pay after the moratorium there has been talk of a path for those that can demonstrate “financial hardship” but that hasn’t been expanded on. So far the only plan is from last year when City Council President Lorena Gonzalez proposed a bill that passed that allows financial hardship as a defense in eviction proceedings for up to 6 months after the city’s moratorium ends and requires landlords and tenants to work out payment plans. 

Residential tenants who receive an eviction notice during the moratorium should contact the Renting in Seattle hotline at 206-684-5700 or go online to submit a complaint.

What does this moratorium mean for landlords?

This moratorium has been pretty rough on landlords, especially small landlords. A 2018 survey of 4000 Seattle landlords showed that most own or manage a small number of units, and more than half of them rely on rental property as a way to supplement their primary income or support their retirement. Fifty-eight percent of Seattle landlords make less than $75,000 a year, with about 30 percent earning $50,000 or less. There have been reports of landlords being out hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue with many unable to pay the mortgages on their properties. 

Why is this important to renters? 

Small landlords are an integral part of offering affordable housing because not only do small landlords own almost half the nation’s rental units, but these apartments typically cost less according to Harvard’s Joint Center on Housing Studies (JCHS). This means that they make up a large part of the affordable housing stock where low-income renters live.

There really hasn’t been a lot of resources for landlords directly. There was a small landlord lottery through King County to get assistance but that program closed in December. There is also the Eviction Resolution Program but that doesn’t really help Landlords pay today it is more about creating a payment plan for back rent. Most of the relief is targeted at the renters leaving landlords to chase back payments from renters who do not qualify or take advantage of the programs. Many landlords are setting up opportunities to help their tenants apply for the resources to help increase the likelihood they do get their back payments but at the end of the day its really on the landlords and tenants to take care of each other and actually pay back the money owed in a timely fashion. 

In this announcement he also extended the debt garnishment and utility shutoff moratorium through July 31st.