While eviction looks different for every family, it is universally disruptive and traumatizing. Families experiencing eviction are also likely to be experiencing a loss of jobs, relationships, and normalcy, while being in a state of panic, according to Brianna Baines, Vision House’s Family Transitions Director.

When a family is evicted from their home, there is often considerable financial stress that leads to them being unable to pay rent. This financial stress often makes it impossible for families to hire movers, rent a van, or even pack their belongings in a timely manner. Many families see all their possessions dumped onto the street, regardless of the season. A family’s belongings may be piled up on the curb in rain, snow, or cold weather.

Last year was a year of enormous need. We saw a 34% increase in requests for services and Vision House staff helped more than 1,000 new families in 2024. While the Family Transitions team normally sees 10% of their caseload facing eviction, the numbers surged to 40% in 2024.

“There is no guidebook to help you navigate all the complexities of homelessness after eviction,” said Derek Sciba, Vision House’s Executive Director. “Talking to Vision House is about as close as you can get to a GPS to guide you through this process.”

A University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance study found that 55% of tenants facing eviction in January 2024 did not have legal representation. “We partner with families to find a pathway out of homelessness,” said Sciba. “We have a relational approach, and we see people as people, not just numbers or a problem to be solved, and we want to help people address those underlying causes of homelessness.”

Washington state has a 2.1% eviction rate. That means 1 out of 50 renters are evicted. The top reason families cannot afford housing in Washington state is affordability. The fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Renton is $2,860, according to HUD. If the adults in a family are working minimum wage jobs, they would need more than two full-time jobs to be able to afford that apartment. If the family has debt, medical expenses, disabilities, or needs childcare, the family budget just does not add up at the end of the month.

Forty-six percent of renters are “rent burdened,” meaning they are spending more than the recommended part of their income on housing expenses.

The image below shows how King County eviction filings are rising, especially after the Washington state moratorium on evictions and rental assistance ended after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once evicted, families often carry debt, or back rent, which creates an additional, ongoing expense and has a negative impact on their credit score. A significant number of landlords also will not rent to families with an eviction on their record in the past two years.

Vision House’s Diversion Program provides support and services to families facing eviction notices or homelessness. Our process is client-led, but Vision House staff can help families identify resources and programs at their disposal and even serve as an advocate when speaking with a landlord.

“It’s scary to call a landlord or debt collector,” said Baines. “But we want them [the family] to know we’re with them 100%. We make those calls with them; we go to those meetings and advocate for them.”

Additionally, Vision House’s Diversion Centers in Renton and Burien have showers, laundry facilities, coffee and tea, computers and internet, and play areas for the children. Vision House staff and program participants can utilize these spaces to meet, sort through documents, search for apartments, and make phone calls. 

Beyond an immediate crisis, Vision House provides transitional housing to families, which helps them rebuild their credit history and take advantage of educational resources for cooking, cleaning, and budgeting. Children’s Village also provides childcare to Vision House participants and many other families in our community. Childcare openings are available now! Ninety percent of our families graduate from our transitional housing program and move into permanent housing.

In January, we hosted a webinar on the family eviction crisis. You can watch the full video here. There are several ways you can support families facing evictions right now. A $60 donation can provide one night of safety to a family. A $1,000 donation keeps one of our Diversion Centers open for one day. You can make a gift here. Your support means the world to families in crisis.

“If someone had another viable option – one more person to call, one more friend to stay with – they wouldn’t be calling Vision House,” said Derek Sciba, Executive Director.