Seattle Office for Civil Rights’ 2025 Year in Review
December 19, 2025
SOCR’s team of hardworking staff, whose commitment to equity and service makes makes our work possible.
Federal judge upholds Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Law
July 8, 2021
A federal judge has struck down a challenge to Seattle’s Fair Chance Housing Ordinance from the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHA) and other landlords represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation. Seattle’s ordinance, born through community organizing and drafted by our office, bars landlords from asking about or adversely acting… [ Keep reading ]
Intro to Fair Housing Month: What is fair housing?
April 1, 2019
Fair Housing is the right of everyone to have equitable access to housing and housing services. Equal access is the first step to ensuring greater equity across marginalized communities. While two people may both have a place to live, their living conditions may be very different. Where you live determines… [ Keep reading ]
LGBTQ housing discrimination all too common
December 7, 2018
Redwolf Painter, a senior systems engineer relocating to Seattle from the San Francisco Bay Area, thought it would be easier to rent an apartment here. But after applying for rentals more than a dozen times—and being denied each time—Redwolf began to suspect a more disturbing pattern. “On the phone, I… [ Keep reading ]
Fair Chance Housing law opens a door to opportunity
February 15, 2018
Augustine Cita had a good union job, working for $28 an hour as a marble mason. By the usual standards, he should have been a great candidate to rent an apartment. But he could not get past the first interview. “I put in applications at 10 to 12 places,” Augustine… [ Keep reading ]