Evictions Are On The Rise — City Council Must Fund Tenant Services

Seattle’s first renter Mayor in recent memory did not restore funding for tenant services slashed by the previous administration in her first crack at the City budget, so now advocacy groups are asking the City Council to add at least $500,000 for the cause. In balancing a $175 million deficit — all cuts, no taxes — making an argument to increase funding anywhere (except for the police apparently), can be a tough sell. But advocates from 29 organizations argue that one of the most cost efficient ways to tackle the homelessness crisis is to prevent renters from losing their housing in the first place. 

In a letter to the Mayor and the Seattle City Council, advocates wrote that “The City of Seattle is putting the health, safety, and housing stability of renters across more than half the city's homes at risk by continuing to underfund tenant services,” particularly the legal assistance that prevents evictions and thus homelessness. 

In her 2027 budget proposal, Wilson maintained tenant services funding at $2.48 million. Obviously that’s preferable to cuts, which many other areas saw in a tight budget, but the move still came as a shock to advocates who thought a renter Mayor would seek to bolster funding in this area. 

Feelings of betrayal aside, this allocation does not keep pace with the demand, advocates argue. According to the letter, King County is on track to “far surpass” its previous annual record for eviction filings. Eviction filings climbed over 1,000 in March 2026 alone, about double what Housing Justice Project managing attorney Vallen Solomon said a rough month has looked like historically. 

Ideally, the City would double its annual investment in tenant services to $5 million. That’s not a huge ask considering the Seattle Police Department raked in an extra $12 million beyond the City’s legal obligation from their cops’ newest labor contract. But sensing limited political will, the letter also prescribed a bare minimum investment of $500,000 just to maintain service. Afterall, “[as operating costs, inflation, and demand continue to rise, flat funding means fewer renters can get the support they need.”

Tenant advocates have on good authority that one of the more progressive City Council Members will champion an amendment to the budget to add $500,000 to tenant services. That’s worth celebrating, but “it is nowhere near enough to meet current demand.”

These budget fights will heat up next Tuesday when the City Council starts briefing amendments.