Renter protection appreciated

Regarding the March 12 article, “Proposal aims to protect renters”: We are very fortunate to have two very dedicated City Council members, Karen Stratton and Amber Waldref, who have taken Spokane’s housing issues to heart. The recent change in the Human Rights ordinance follows the lead of the Mayor’s Taskforce on Quality Housing to ensure that no person with a housing voucher will go homeless because they were denied housing by a landlord who would not accept that voucher.

Congratulations are also in order to Steve Corker and the Landlord Association and to Terri Anderson from the Tenants Union of Washington State as they came together to make this happen. I have never understood why a landlord would turn down rent paid by voucher as there is no worry about late rent or not being paid. With the vacancy rate at about 1.6 percent, being turned down can be a move into homelessness for struggling families. Thanks everyone, this is a good move!

Kathryn Alexander

Spokane