Seattle City Wire

Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant has introduced legislation that would bar landlords from evicting schoolchildren and their families during the school year.

“When landlords evict families with school-aged children, especially during the school year, the eviction has a devastating impact on the children’s academic achievement, health and development,” Sawant said during an April 19 City Council meeting. “The vast majority of evicted schoolchildren have to change schools, abruptly leaving behind their friends, teachers they know and trust, and their social supports. Evictions harm students’ chance of graduating and greatly increase dropout rates.”

There are “mountains of research” showing that when children are evicted, their development and achievement are affected, she said.

Kshama Sawant | Seattle.gov

“Imagine trying to focus on your schoolwork as a child while losing your home,” she said. “How can you even focus on your lessons when you are facing this instability in your life?”

In 2018, the state of Washington found that nearly 4,200 Seattle public school students were homeless at some point during the year, the council member said.

“That is a staggering 7% of all public school children,” she said.  “In practical terms, that means that in an average class of 30 students, two would be homeless at some point during the school year.”

It’s a racial justice issue, according to Sawant.

“Seattle landlords evict black tenants at a much higher rate than other tenants,” she said. “We also know see that black and brown students and other students of color disproportionately face homelessness.”

The council member said she is committed to working with “educators, students and our renters’ rights movement to stop landlords from evicting families with schoolchildren, along with stopping the eviction of education workers.”

Another Seattle council member, Tammy Morales, has also introduced the first part of a package of legislation to protect tenants in the city by preventing landlords from refusing to renew their leases without just cause.