August 2022 Newsletter: Waitlist, Tiered Rent Study, and More!
A Message from EHA Executive Director: Ashley Lommers-Johnson
The Everett Housing Authority has played a significant role in the provision of affordable housing for those who need it most over many decades. While this work continued unabated, we have flown mostly under the radar. My team and I at EHA would like to change this for a number of reasons.
- As public servants, informing our community and customers about our priorities and activities is generally a positive thing.
- EHA has changed tremendously over the past decade, and we want to make sure that the Everett community knows the extent and results of these changes.
- The next ten years will be even more impactful as we become more aggressive in our efforts to meet the massive deficit in affordable housing in and around Everett. We want to keep our community informed about these efforts and their potential impact.
I hope that this newsletter will shed light on matters of importance to you and that this transparency will lead to increased trust and confidence in EHA.
Do you know someone in need of housing? EHA is excited to open the Project Based Voucher waiting lists to families and elderly and disabled applicants for the following communities:
- Bakerview Apartments
- Grandview Apartments
- Pineview Apartments
- Wiggums Place Apartments
- Broadway Plaza Apartments
- Madrona Square (NEW!)
The waitlist will remain open until September 30, 2022 at 5PM. Applications may only be submitted through our online application system and will be ordered by date and time.
Unsure how to talk to your landlord? Here are some tips to help communicate, while protecting yourself as a tenant:
- Be Respectful: Kindness and respect in all interactions is important for a good relationship
- Put It in Writing: Putting things in writing helps to be able to refer to something in the future.
- Keep a Copy: Keeping copies of things allows you to reference it when you need to, quickly and efficiently.
EHA was admitted to MTW as part of a group of housing authorities that are studying a tiered rent policy for non-elderly, non-disabled participants. Starting in late 2022, half of EHA’s non-elderly, non-disabled households will be selected to pay tiered rent. The other half of non-elderly and non-disabled households, as well as elderly and disabled households, will have their rent based on the current policy. These participants will have their income reviewed and rent amount updated every three years instead of annually, and the rent calculation will be simplified. Tiered rent participants will pay rent based on the range of income that their income falls within, which will be more predictable for participants. If you are eligible, you will be hearing directly from EHA in late 2022 with more information and don’t need to do anything further at this time.
Have you tried calling Everett Housing Authority recently? We're excited to share we have a new phone tree! You can continue to call your property office directly if you live at an EHA property. The phone tree can help you connect with a staff member if you are not at an EHA property or unsure who to contact to help with your needs.
Contact us at: 425-258-9222
REMINDER: The EHA offices are closed to the public and staff can meet in person by appointment only. Please call if you would like to schedule an appointment.
The Attorney General of Washington released SB 5160 New Guidance that offers the following Tenant Protections for Renters:
If you were unable to pay rent between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2021:
- Your landlord may not charge you late fees or other charges for unpaid rent during that tine period; and
- Your landlord may not report to a prospective landlord that you did not pay rent, or that an unlawful detainer action was filed against you, because you did not pay rent during that time period.
Furthermore, "a current or future landlord may not deny, discourage application for, or make unavailable any rental unit because of your medical history, including prior or current COVID-19 exposure or infection. A current or future landlord may not request or consider your medical records or history, unless they are necessary to evaluate your request for a reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification. If a landlord or prospective landlord violates the requirements above, you may sue them for the violation and get them to pay your attorneys’ fees and court costs."
In regards to repayment plans, "if you have remaining unpaid rent that accrued between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2021, your landlord must offer you a reasonable schedule for repayment of the unpaid rent." A "reasonable repayment schedule" cannot be more than 1/3 of your monthly rental charges at the time you were unable to pay. For more information, the SB 5160 New Guidance document can be viewed online at https://www.atg.wa.gov/landlord-tenant.
In need of a laptop or a Wi-Fi Hotspot device? All you need is a valid library card!
Everett Public Library: Chromebooks and Wi-Fi Hotspots are available for 3-week checkouts! Chromebooks are pre-loaded with many apps to help students, job seekers, and the general public navigate online resources. Hotspots provide data service to connect Chromebooks, smart phones, tablets and other devices to the Internet. Chromebooks and Hotspots can be checked out together or separately. Call (425) 257-8000 to reserve a device.
Sno-Isle Libraries: Laptops and Wi-Fi Hotspots can be checked out for up to 1 week! Customers can place a hold on a laptop or Wi-Fi Hotspot with a library card. Customers will then receive notification when they are ready to pickup.
Contact-Free Pickup Phone Numbers:
- Edmonds - (425) 771-1933
- Lynnwood - (360)651-7187
- Snohomish - (360) 651-7196
- Sultan - (360) 651-7198
I really don't want to be on federally funded assistance forever, are there any programs offered that can help me reach that goal?
Yes! The Family Self Sufficiency Program was created in the 1980’s as a way for people who receive public housing or Section 8 to eliminate or reduce dependence on government subsidies and save money by increasing earned income. This earned income progression results in tenant rent increases which results in contributions to an escrow or savings account. Learn more by emailing us at fss@evha.org. We also have Service Coordinators at different EHA properties that can provide resources and additional support as needed.
Everett Farmers Market - Sundays | 2930 Wetmore Ave., Everett | 10:30AM for Seniors & High Risk Customers, 11AM-3PM
Use your EBT card with SNAP Market Match: https://everettfarmersmarket.com/food-assistance-programs/snap-market-match/
Virtual: Entry Level Job Fair - Tuesday, August 16 | Online | 11AM-2PM | Link: https://bit.ly/augjobfair
Imagine Children's Museum - Wednesday-Sunday | 1502 Wall St., Everett | EBT Card Holder TIckets: $3.00
Reserve your ticket and time: https://ImagineCM.org
Summer Bash - Saturday, August 20 | Hawthorne Elementary: 1110 Poplar St. | 11AM-1PM
Sponsored by Bethany Compassion Center, Summer Bash is all about offering some much-needed help to families by providing backpacks, school supplies, groceries, a free lunch, and a day of fun for the whole family!
