The legal problem: After overcoming addiction and working to get his life back, Michael Shapsnikoff was unable to secure housing because an eviction was part of his rental history, and many landlords screen out prospective tenants with an eviction record.
As Michael pursued recovery, he reached out to Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for help. NJP worked with Michael to petition the court for an Order of Limited Dissemination (OLD), which removes an eviction from a person’s rental history. The court granted the OLD in 2023, clearing the path for Michael to find stable housing.
Michael shares his story: At the lowest point in my addiction, I would have given anything to return to the ‘ordinary’ life I once lived. Born an Alaskan Native but raised in Washington, I worked a 9-to-5 job at a car dealership and went home each night to a modest apartment. I used substances recreationally, but they didn’t rule my life until I was introduced to methamphetamines in 2018.
Meth cost me everything: my job, savings, custody of my children, and my apartment. Desperate to avoid eviction, I had asked my apartment manager for a few extra weeks to cover the balance with my final paycheck. Despite my efforts, a ‘pay or vacate’ notice appeared on my door, and I was removed from the payment portal.
I was soon living in my truck. I didn’t recognize the person I was becoming as I sold drugs and committed petty thefts during the pandemic, slipping into a dark place.
My reality check arrived in the form of an arrest and the impounding of my truck.
While this seemed like rock bottom, I could finally see a path forward. I entered a 52-day treatment program centered in Native American culture and began my recovery. For the first time, I was immersed in Native heritage and healing practices. Nurturing this portion of my identity gave me the momentum to continue recovery even when a COVID outbreak cut my treatment time short.
In 2021, I found a local sober living house and moved in, helping to paint and fix up the space for other housemates. My life was moving in a better direction. I wanted to set myself up for a successful future and find a place of my own. But I knew that my eviction record could pose a problem and decided to reach out to the Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for legal help.
Fadi, an NJP attorney, helped me explore different options. In 2022, we filed for an Order of Limited Dissemination (OLD) that would prevent future landlords from seeing an eviction on my record. With Fadi’s support, I wrote a statement explaining my side of the story and waited for a court date in 2023. A month later, we learned that the OLD was granted.
I’m relieved that a chapter from my past won’t dictate the rest of my story. I now work for a peer support company, helping others on their journey. Thanks to NJP, I have a chance to rebuild my life and get back to being a dad, friend, and advocate for others.
Learn more about OLDs on WashingtonLawHelp.org : “Why your rental applications keep getting denied—and how to fix it.”