Dunn proposal would restrict funds, request audit of controversial Housing Justice Project programs

April 30, 2024

Following multiple investigative reports that revealed the alarming use of taxpayer funds to provide ill-intended scammers with free legal services and rent payments, King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Tuesday introduced a motion that would place restrictions on the Housing Justice Project’s use of King County funds and request an audit of the Housing Justice Project’s operations related to rental assistance and legal services.

“It’s abundantly clear that without acting to put more oversight measure in place, Housing Justice Project programs that are intended to help those who have fallen on hard times will continue to be abused by bad actors who are gaming the system,” Dunn said. “Not only is this completely unjust for housing providers who must cover the unpaid rent, utilities, damages, and legal fees—but the real travesty is that all this is being done with taxpayer dollars. King County must intervene immediately to bring accountability to Housing Justice Project programs, audit how our funds are being used, and stop ill-intended crooks from continuing to exploit eviction prevention aid.”

King County provided the Housing Justice Project with $16 million in the 2023-24 budget to fund eviction prevention and rental assistance programs and for legal aid to prevent inappropriate housing loss. Dunn’s legislation would restrict these dollars to only be used for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and are leasing a property with a value less than the median home value in King County. This would prioritize the aid for those who are most in need and prevent reoccurrences of tenants with income who refuse to pay rent.

One such occurrence involved a tenant who was renting out his rented home on Airbnb while refusing to pay rent. As a result, the Seattle landlord became homeless and lost more than $80,000 in back rent and legal fees. In another ongoing instance in Bellevue, a squatter declared an income of $400,000 but never paid rent beyond the first month. After nearly two years of non-payment, the Housing Justice Project stepped in and provided $88,000 in rent assistance in addition to the free legal services they had been providing.

Dunn’s legislation also calls for an audit of the Housing Justice Project that examine the outcomes of Housing Justice Project court cases, looking at how many cases were able to be won, versus how many cases were simply drawn out through an extended legal process at great cost to the housing provider and taxpayers. Currently, unlawful detainer cases are backlogged for at least six months in King County. The audit would also examine the average case resolution time and the income levels of the tenants served. The report would be due to the Council by October 1, 2024.

Dunn’s legislation will be referred to the Law and Justice Committee.