The hidden cost of renting: The fight against junk fees
ShaWayne Hodges, a single mother of five in Vancouver, Washington, found herself facing an unexpected $250 charge from her property management company, Zenith Properties NW. The reason? Her grass had turned brown during a summer heat wave. This fee, along with numerous others, quickly accumulated to around $3,000, a staggering amount for a low-income tenant […]
NJP Attorney Carrie Graf: Preventing evictions, protecting human dignity
Interview with NJP attorney Carrie Graf: Whenever a tenancy can be saved, it must be saved Q: Why did you decide to become a legal aid lawyer and practice housing law? During my second summer of law school, I interned with Legal Aid in Minneapolis. On my first day in eviction court, I saw a […]
NJP in the News: Keeping a litigious corporate landlord in check
A lawsuit against discrimination in housing, filed in 2019, may now help keep the same property owners in check, as they scoop up three new properties in Tacoma. Robert Elon Mix, a disabled veteran, sued Dimension Townhouses LLC and its affiliate after they acquired his apartment complex and altered payment terms, leading to late fees […]
Justice in Action and Beyond – Reflections on 17+ years at Northwest Justice Project
As I prepare to retire as Executive Director of Northwest Justice Project (NJP) at the end of this month, I have been reflecting on the incredible privilege it has been for me to serve in this role, and on where NJP is today. In that regard, I am thrilled that Director of Advocacy Abigail Daquiz and Deputy Director/General Counsel Hickory Gateless – two senior members of our outstanding leadership team – will serve as interim co-executive directors during the transition to NJP’s next executive director.
Victory for Survivors of Domestic Violence in U.S. Supreme Court; Gun Ban for Abusers Confirmed
Most evictions in Washington State never go to court. They are resolved through settlements between landlords and tenants. After Kathleen and Aaron Allen, mother and daughter, were threatened with eviction, they agreed to a settlement with their landlord, Princeton Property Management.
Stay connected to justice in Washington.
Get monthly stories of the people we serve, updates on our work, and ways to help.
NJP Client Angela Overcomes Property Tax Foreclosure
Angela, a Tacoma homeowner raising her teenage daughter and three grandchildren, faced foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes.
Press Release: Washington Appeals Court: Eviction Settlements that Strip Tenants’ Rights Are Void
SEATTLE, WA – April 5, 2024 – The Elves for the Homeless and four unhoused individuals residing in Clarkston, Washington, filed a lawsuit today challenging the city of Clarkston's Ordinance 1706 as unconstitutional and in violation of the American with Disabilities Act.
From the Fishing Wars to Today: Tribal Communities Pursue Justice
On February 12, Town Hall Seattle hosted a panel Reflecting on Treaty Justice and Tribal Sovereignty, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Boldt decision. A group of Northwest Justice Project attorneys who work with Tribal communities attended the event. Here, they reflect on that event and the ongoing impact of the Boldt decision.
Justice in Action: Legal advocacy that supports victims of violence and their communities
May 5 was a day to honor, remember and raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The MMIW crisis impacts entire communities as families are devastated by the loss of loved ones and face challenges and barriers navigating law enforcement and legal systems that have allowed this epidemic to persist for generations. […]
Justice in Action for Victims of Sexual Assault: Victory at the Washington Supreme Court
In August 2020, Carmella, a 22-year-old college student, embarked on her first solo trip amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her plan was to visit a friend in Nevada. But the events that followed changed Carmella’s life and led to a legal case that lasted more than three years as Carmella and her Northwest Justice Project (NJP) attorneys pursued a Sexual Assault Protection Order (SAPO) against a man that sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated from alcohol intoxication.