Where Can I Get Rent Assistance or Eviction Help in Washington?

If your landlord takes you to court to evict you, you may get a free lawyer through the state's Right to Counsel program. A state law, RCW 59.18.640, created this right for tenants with low income. You may qualify if you get TANF, food stamps, SSI or similar public benefits, or if your income is low under federal poverty guidelines. The Office of Civil Legal Aid runs the program with legal aid groups statewide. Ask about the program as soon as you get an eviction notice.

Washington Courts runs Self-Help Washington, a set of resources for people going to court without a lawyer (self-represented persons). Its Eviction & Housing Issues section covers eviction under the landlord-tenant act, other housing issues, forms, and formal complaints. It also links to the court forms used statewide in Washington Courts. Self-help centers that work with the courts offer free, limited legal services and information to people going to court without a lawyer. Get help from a legal aid group for your specific case.

The Washington Attorney General's Office runs a Landlord-Tenant information page. It explains the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, the state law covering renters (RCW 59.18). The page also covers the rent stabilization law (the law that limits rent increases) and eviction notice rules. For mobile or manufactured home park disputes, call the Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program at 1-866-924-6458.

Washington 211 is a free, confidential helpline that speaks many languages. It is a statewide helpline with a directory of 17,000 local resources. Call 211 to find local help with rent, utilities (water, electric, gas), food and housing. If you are outside Washington or cannot dial 211, call 1-877-211-9274. The Attorney General's Office lists landlord-tenant complaints as ones it does not handle. It says to call 211.

The Attorney General's Office offers an informal complaint resolution service for consumer complaints about businesses in Washington. If your landlord raises your rent above the state cap, you may file a complaint with the office. File online or call 1-800-551-4636 (in Washington only) or 206-464-6684. The office sends your complaint to the business and asks for a response within 30 days. It cannot force a business to respond or make a change. It does not handle routine residential landlord-tenant complaints. Call 211 for those.

The Washington State Human Rights Commission enforces the state's fair housing law, the Washington Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60). Under this law, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you after you make a legitimate offer. A landlord also cannot refuse to negotiate with you. File a complaint online or call 1-800-233-3247.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission regulates privately owned (investor-owned) utility companies. If your utility company will not fix a billing problem or sends a shutoff notice, you can file a complaint with the commission. Use its online complaint form. If your service is about to be shut off, call the commission's consumer protection help line at 1-888-333-9882. If your utility is a Public Utility District (PUD), a city-run utility, or a special district, contact that utility directly.

The Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) uses federal funds to help communities provide rental assistance (money to help pay rent). It helps adults and families with children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Help can include short-term or medium-term rental assistance. The Washington State Department of Commerce says its programs do not give help directly. To ask for help, contact your local Coordinated Entry program.

The Washington Department of Commerce runs the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It helps low-income households pay energy bills and avoid losing service. It covers any heat source: electric, gas, propane (a gas sold in tanks), oil, coal, or wood. It can also pay to repair or replace an unsafe or broken heating or cooling unit. You may qualify based on your heating costs, income, and household size. Contact your local LIHEAP provider to check if you qualify and to schedule an appointment. Commerce does not take applications directly.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) runs a housing counseling program through a nationwide network of HUD participating housing counseling agencies. HUD says the program helps families obtain, sustain, and retain their homes. Search by your Washington zip code, or select Washington from the state list, to find an agency near you. You can also call 800-569-4287 (202-708-1455 TTY). This is a federal service, and Washington is on the state list.