Posting on behalf of Kimberly Peterson who is having trouble posting: I would like to make a call for action: Edmonds City Council needs to revise its policies regarding its renter population which makes up nearly 40% of its households. Seattle has had protections in place that exceed the very weak Washington State protections for years. In Edmonds, the only protections are those provided by the State of Washington. Those laws no longer provide sufficient protections in an ever-changing economy and reduction of the middle class. In Seattle, a landlord must have ‘Just Cause” to evict (see SMC 22.206.160.C). In Edmonds, a renter on a month-to-month agreement or at the end of a fixed term agreement is only entitled to 20 days notice to move and can be forced out arbitrarily. 20 days notice does not provide enough time for a renter to find a new place in an aggressive rental market. Not only that, but the renter may need time to come up with first month’s rent, last month’s rent, 1 month rent for security deposit and all the costs involved in the physical move. In a market where the average rent for less than 800 square feet of apartment is $1,518.00, the cost to secure a new apartment would run $4,554.00 and this does not include boxes or a truck much less a laborer to help the infirm or elderly. In an economy where most households are not prepared to cover an emergency expense of $400.00 (see https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm), I’m quite sure that 20 days notice to vacate puts Edmond’s renters (who make up nearly 40% of all the households) at risk of homelessness should a landlord arbitrarily determine, without just cause, that a particular tenant is no longer wanted. This puts all renters at risk of homelessness. Let us create better protections for all Edmonds renters.