Provides civil legal aid services to low-income tenants with pending eviction, subsidy terminations and requests for reasonable accommodation in King County. Tenant Law Center attorneys can assist with evictions from permanent and subsidized housing. A notice is not required Tenant Law Center can assist with: - Pending evictions for residents who have not yet received a Summons and Complaint. - Preventing Section 8 subsidy terminations for King County residents (cannot do reinstatements); must have written notice of pending subsidy termination. - Helps tenants in King County get reasonable accommodations after the initial request was denied.

Takes complaints and investigates situations that include: - Accumulation of junk and debris - Clearing or grading without permits - Construction without a permit - Dangerous or open-to-entry buildings - Illegally placed mobile homes or factory-assembled structures - Irresponsible or hazardous development - Livestock infractions - Open wells and other hazardous conditions - Operation of an illegal business - Storage of junk cars - Zoning code infractions Investigates possible code violations.    Operates a 24-hour telephone hotline for reports of serious violations of environmental laws during off hours. The hotline allows staff to react and halt damage.

Operates a legal clinic providing a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney (60 minutes if an interpreter or other accommodation is needed) Clinic is open to all, but particular focus is on providing culturally-informed legal services in a safe and welcoming environment to individuals who identify as African American or Black. This clinic is staffed primarily by attorneys of color. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood Legal Clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Operates several advice clinics at a variety of locations and times (including evenings), makes referrals to volunteer attorneys and provides public information for low-income clients. Has attorneys on staff and can provide limited emergency services depending on the client's legal issue. Clients are encouraged to start an intake through the website, call or come by for legal assistance and referrals to other organizations. Current clinic times and locations are available online and appointments are required for some clinics (check website for clinic times and details). Areas of assistance can include: - Family Law & Domestic Violence - Landlord/Tenant - Foreclosure - Consumer and Business - Bankruptcy - Vacation of Criminal Records - Reinstatement of Drivers License - Veteran Assistance - Wills, Probate, Guardianship and Power of Attorney. Also serves as a referral partner with the Federal Civil Rights Clinic. Will direct clients to the clinic for intake, appointments, and follow up.

Free legal services for older adults, age 60 and over. In-person clinics, (or individually by phone), offer 30-minute legal consultation for civil legal issues including estate planning, landlord/tenant rights, and Social Security.

- Offers free legal assistance to low-income tenants involved in residential eviction court proceedings. Legal assistants interview tenants and attorneys review all relevant documents. - Attorneys will representation in court and to resolve filed eviction lawsuit; attorneys will also negotiate with the landlord and represent the tenant. - Attorneys are unable to assist with evictions from emergency shelters or residential care facilities (such as nursing homes). They are able to assist those being evicted from permanent, transitional, and manufactured (mobile home) housing. - Drop-in child care provided by the Children's Home Society at the Regional Justice Center for parents while they appear in court.

Provides tenant education to tenants only on the rights and responsibilities of both tenant and landlord. Provides tenant resources, eviction prevention resources and legal aid resource information. This is done over the phone through the Voice Message Line (see times below) Offers Rent Smart webinars and workshops, as well as one-on-one conversations via the voice message line to address rental issues. Webinar and message line services are available in English and Spanish, and translation services are available for other languages.

Hosts a legal clinic specifically designed to address the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and couples. This clinic is run by QLaw Foundation in partnership with the King County Bar Association. The clinic is open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the clinic, an attorney will meet with clients for 30 minutes and provide individualized legal advice and information. Clinic attorneys will answer questions and provide information in a variety of areas including family law, immigration, debt and bankruptcy, divorce/dissolution, employment discrimination, and transgender legal issues.

Investigates and enforces housing and zoning codes.  Representatives will contact landlords and instruct them to make needed repairs.  Complaints regarding health and sanitation, public nuisance, junk vehicles, and abatement of dangerous buildings also handled. Referrals made when appropriate.

It provides for a process to assist landlords and tenants in making rent repayment plans, in negotiation of lease related concerns, or in any other housing related dispute. The purpose of the program is to prevent the eviction of tenants who wish to stay housed where they are or to create a seamless exit plan for those who wish to leave. The Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center is the lead agency in Clallam and Jefferson counties, to coordinate participation in rent repayment plans between landlords, tenants, their legal counsel, funding agencies and other services as needed.

Operates legal clinics providing free 30 minute consultations with an attorney. Focus is on Korean and Korean-speaking clients. Clinic attorneys can: -  Determine whether the client has a legal problem -  Suggest possible options -  Help answer papers, summons and requests -  Provide appropriate referrals   Neighborhood legal clinic attorneys may not have expertise in all areas of the law, but they will make every attempt to answer questions accurately. Attorneys CANNOT give advice on criminal legal issues or provide representation on any legal matters.

Services are provided by trained professional mediators who volunteer their time. Services include: - Face to Face Mediation - Coaching for problems - Some simple negotiation over the telephone TYPES OF PROBLEMS THE CENTER WILL HANDLE: - Divorce mediation - Parenting Plan mediation - Neighborhood problems (noise, pets, parking, lawn & garden, property line problems and other nuisances) - Landlord-tenant issues (deposits, repairs, damages, etc.) - Real estate or personal property - Business consumer problems (faulty merchandise, refunds, exchanges, etc.) - Employer/employee grievances - School problems involving faculty or administration, students or parents - Family issues such as problems related to divorce and parenting plans - Other domestic problems not involving violence or other factors that require professional intervention or assistance TYPES OF PROBLEMS NOT HANDLED: Any problem requiring legal assistance, such as filing lawsuits (criminal defenses, will preparation, etc.); issues involving drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, abuse to children, or issues where one or more parties fears abuse; or problems where a party cannot speak adequately on their own behalf, although can work with clients who have a case manager. Other Services Provided: - Offers workshop of varying lengths to organizations, businesses, and groups on a range of topics including: conflict resolution, negotiation, communication, conflict styles, and dealing with difficult people. - Victim Offender Meeting Program: Brings together victims of juvenile crime with the offenders to talk about the impact of the crime and for the youth to make amends. - Assists senior citizens to resolve disputes with family members, businesses, landlords, neighbors and others through mediation. - Parent Youth Mediation Service: Allows parents and teenagers or pre-teens to sit down together to talk about how things are going within the family and develop agreements on behaviors, level of independence, respectful communication and consequences. Co-mediators assist the mediating parties.

Provides information on landlord-tenant laws and legal rights and options for tenants with immediate housing problems, including eviction. One-on-one counseling is available. Assists in organizing groups of tenants to bring about landlord compliance with the Landlord/Tenant Act and existing housing codes. Provides community education on tenant issues, advocates for tenants' rights and offers referrals for rent assistance. Does not provide legal counsel, but does provide referrals to appropriate counsel.

Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) housing and zoning inspectors respond to complaints about:   -  Minimum housing standards -  Land use violations -  Shorelines -  "Just cause" eviction -  Vacant and unfit buildings -  Lock-outs -  Rent increases without proper notice -  Landlord or property manager retaliation -  Landlord or property manager entering a unit without both notice and consent -  Prohibiting tenant organizing -  Landlord or property manager harassment Health and safety are the department's first priorities for investigation and resolution of reported violations.    Health concerns include tenant complaints about conditions that may cause mold in rental units, such as excessive moisture. Seattle’s Housing and Building Maintenance Code (HBMC) contains requirements designed to keep building occupants dry and warm. In a building maintained in compliance with code requirements, all components of the building including foundation, roof, walls and windows are reasonably weather tight, watertight and damp-free.   SDCI conducts inspections of the property named in the complaint and contacts the landlord. SDCI sets a time frame for voluntary resolution.   Code compliance specialists will take cases that violate housing codes, and will require rescission of bad eviction notices and correction of unsafe or unpermitted housing conditions. The law department will eventually sue violators if necessary. Also performs investigations of illegal evictions.   New enforcement for leases entered into after 1/15/17. Refer if: -  The landlord requires security deposit/nonrefundable move-in fees that are more than first month's rent   -  The landlord requires nonrefundable move-in fees other than for tenant screening report, cleaning at termination of tenancy, criminal background check, or credit report   -  The landlord requires a pet deposit that is more than 25% of first month's rent or any other pet fee/rent -  The landlord refuses to enter payment plan for security deposit/nonrefundable move-in fees, pet deposit, or last month's rent -  The deposit not returned and no move-in checklist was signed by landlord and tenant at move-in -  No statement of deposit or deposit returned 21 days after tenant moved out   Advance notice may be needed for an interpreter.

- Offers free legal assistance to low-income tenants involved in residential eviction court proceedings. Legal assistants interview tenants and attorneys review all relevant documents. - Attorneys will representation in court and to resolve filed eviction lawsuit; attorneys will also negotiate with the landlord and represent the tenant. - Attorneys are unable to assist with evictions from emergency shelters or residential care facilities (such as nursing homes). They are able to assist those being evicted from permanent, transitional, and manufactured (mobile home) housing. - Drop-in child care provided by the Children's Home Society at the Regional Justice Center for parents while they appear in court.

Connects people with community resources to help meet basic needs such as food and housing; including requests for emergency shelter, rental assistance, referrals for affordable housing and problem solving help with landlord/tenant issues.

Provides free legal assistance for low-income individuals who would otherwise be denied access to the legal system because of the inability to pay. Potential clients are screened to determine income and case eligibility. Referrals are made to local attorneys who volunteer their time. Provides legal assistance with the following: Family Law (includes family law class to anyone who is seeking help in having their family law court documents reviewed), Debtor-Creditor, Bankruptcy, Social Security/ Disability, Wills/Power of Attorneys, Guardianship, Landlord/Tenant, Child Support, Immigration, and Protection Order. * Does not assist with: Criminal matters (of any kind including traffic infractions), Termination of Parental Rights, or Adoptions.

People involved in a conflict meet with two skilled mediators for a 2-hour session. Without taking sides, mediators guide the parties through a process to resolve their conflict and reach a solution both of them can live with, resulting in successful resolution more than 80% of the time. Mediation can be used by: - Neighbors - Tenants and landlords - Homeowners facing foreclosure - Employees and supervisors - Work teams - Business owners and their customers - Divorcing couples - Parents developing parenting plans - Teens and their parents - Elders, their families and caregivers. Mediation does not prevent either party from taking further action such as filing a grievance, using arbitration or going to court.

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC)'s Youth Homelessness Program provides free civil legal services for youth and young adults between ages 12-24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Provides crisis resolution through giving strategic advice and negotiating to resolve a dispute or obtain items or services for the client. Also assists with information and resources. Types of problems include: - Money/Benefits - Housing - Employment - Health care - Consumer - Relationships - Bureaucracy Cannot give legal advice or direct cash assistance and cannot promise a particular outcome.

Provides comprehensive rental and ownership housing counseling services, certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Counseling services address topics of delinquency and landlord/tenant mediation; and financial planning and pre-purchase. Also provides general information about HUD-subsidized programs, insurance and fair housing. Additionally, offers a foreclosure prevention program that combines mortgage, reverse mortgage and pre-foreclosure counseling, stabilization loans and repayment plans, to help low-income families in danger of losing their homes. Rather than being forced into a sale by the mortgage holder and thus forfeiting their equity, program offers borrowers two alternative options: avoiding default by working through a repayment plan to stay in their home, or gaining enough time to sell their homes on their own terms. Provides foreclosure mediation services as part of the Foreclosure Fairness Program.

Provides free 45-minute to 1-hour appointments with an attorney for advice on civil legal issues such as: Federal and state benefits (social security, veteran's, Medicare and Medicaid), employment, contracts, debt/consumer/finance, landlord/tenant. Appointments are required. Clinics are currently telephonic. Attorneys at the clinic are not able to provide representation.

Coordinates civil legal aid with the help of licensed attorneys and skilled staff in the categories of vacation of criminal record, eviction prevention, protection orders / trauma-informed family law, divorce, custody, support, general legal aid, guardianship and wills, and landlord/tenant issues from the perspective of the tenant. Offers a bi-weekly Civil Tribal Legal Clinic addressing family law, landlord/tenant, wills and estate planning, contracts, and homeownership. Offers a weekly Drop-In Clinic at the Cowlitz County Hall of Justice, and a bi-weekly general civil legal clinic. Offers a bi-weekly legal clinic at Cowlitz Family Health Center. Also provides free legal forms to the public for different civil legal issues.

Provides dispute resolution by means of mediation, conciliation, facilitation and training. Types of disputes include but are not limited to: landlord/tenant; consumer/merchant; parent/teenager; employer/employee; neighbor/neighbor; family; divorce; parenting plans/property division; small claims court cases; and non-violent criminal cases.

Provides comprehensive mediation services including small claims court referrals, parenting plans, rental housing mediation, and community mediation. Training offered for certification.