In passing the measure, members of the council hope to keep as many people in their current homes as possible and avoid the devastating and expensive downstream consequences — including homelessness — that often follow when someone is forcibly removed from where they live.
“This legislation will not enough be itself and we know that we need a lot more,” said Councilmember Kshama Sawant, who originally proposed the legislation. “We know that eviction destroys communities, wrecks households and even kills.”
The vote was originally slated to occur two weeks ago, but was delayed after several council members expressed a desire to review the measure more before voting. Some of its urgency evaporated
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