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​EVICTION RESOURCES


In 2021, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington State Legislature enacted many new landlord-tenant laws. Evictions in Washington State are called Unlawful Detainers.


Appointed Counsel

One of the new laws provides that low-income tenants shall be appointed a free attorney to represent them during Unlawful Detainer proceedings.  Tenants must be screened to determine eligibility for an appointed attorney.  

To screen for appointed counsel in Kitsap County, tenants should:

(1) Contact Kitsap Legal Aid Services at EvictionDefense@KitsapLegalAid.org or 360-479-6125; or

(2) Contact the Eviction Defense hotline at 1-855-657-8387.


Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP)

The Legislature also created an Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) for evictions based on non-payment of rent in which the eviction notice was given on or before June 30, 2023.  The goal of the program is to bring all parties together with trained resolution specialists to explore solutions such as available State and local rental assistance, or achievable payment plans that could help tenants retain their housing and divert their situations from the legal eviction process.  In Kitsap County, the ERPP was implemented by Standing Order on August 18, 2021.  The Order was subsequently amended on April 5, 2022, December 7, 2022, and June 13, 2023.  While the statute underlying the ERPP expired on June 30, 2023 formally ending the program, parties in Kitsap County who were in the ERPP before July 1, 2023 have until September 30, 2023 to complete the mediation process.     


​Superior Court Orders and Resource Documents
​
​RIGHT TO COUNSEL ORDERS
​First Amended Standing Order Regarding Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Defendants in Unlawful Detainer (RTC) dated March 8, 2022
Standing Administrative Order Regarding Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Defendants in Unlawful Detainers (RTC) dated November 3, 2021​
​Exhibit A (rev'd 03/13/23) -     Word     PDF

​EVICTION RESOLUTION PILOT PROGRAM
​Fourth Amended Standing Order Regarding Unlawful Detainer Action and Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) dated June 13, 2023
Third Amended Standing Order Regarding Unlawful Detainer Action and the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) dated December 7, 2022​
​Second Amended Standing Order Regarding Unlawful Detainer Action and the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) dated December 6, 2022
First Amended Standing Order Regarding Unlawful Detainer Actions and the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) dated April 5, 2022​
Standing Administrative Order Regarding Unlawful Detainer Actions and the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program (ERPP) dated August 18, 2021​
​Exhibit A - ERPP Notice and Resource Information
​
​LANDLORD RESOURCES
Summons Form: RCW 59.18.365
​Notice Form (14 Day Notice to Vacate): RCW 59.18.057
​Landlord COVID Relief Program
​Residential Landlord-Tenant Resources - Washington State
​Library Resources for the Public - UW Library Guides
​
​​TENANT RESOURCES
Eviction Help - Northwest Justice Project​
​Eviction: Know Your Rights - WashingtonLawHelp
​


  • VOLUNTARY LANDLORD-TENANT MEDIATION:
    Dispute Resolution Center
    DRC of Kitsap County
    9321 Bay Shore Drive NW
    Silverdale, WA 98383
    360-698-0968

    FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING RESOURCES:
    Kitsap Community Resources
    1201 Park Avenue
    Bremerton, WA 98337
    360-473-2035
    www.kcr.org

    FOR APPOINTED COUNSEL AND FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE:
    Kitsap Legal Aid Services
    500 Pacific Ave., Ste. 401
    Bremerton, WA 98337

    TO APPLY FOR FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE (must qualify):
    Northwest Justice Project
    400 Warren Avenue, Suite 350
    Bremerton, WA 98337
    www.WashingtonLawHelp.org
    Eviction Defense Hotline:  1-855-657-8387
    https://nwjustice.org/eviction-help
    CLEAR General Intake:: 888-201-1015