Renton mayor expected to help protect tenants with Section 8 vouchers

The mayor of Renton is expected to introduce new housing legislation to protect tenants with Section 8 vouchers Monday.

The move comes after dozens of residents say they are being kicked out of their homes due to discrimination.

The word is more than 60 residents living in the Gramercy apartments, along with the Renton Woods complex nearby, will be able to stay in their homes longer than first thought.

According to the Seattle Times, the attorney for the residents has come to an agreement with the company operating the complexes to allow the Section 8 tenants to live there until June 30 of next year.

Last week, the residents told KIRO 7 their leases weren't being renewed at the end of the month because the apartments no longer accepted Section 8 vouchers.

One tenant says she has a young son and they are victims of discrimination.

"He's like, ‘I am scared, I don't know where we are moving to. We are going to be homeless.’ I am just trying to explain to you. Just worry about being a kid, I will worry about everything else,” said tenant Eboni Pennington.

The tenants union said there are five apartments in Renton where landlords will stop accepting Section 8 vouchers.

The mayor is set to introduce legislation to help protect the tenants at Monday’s city council meeting.

Trending on KIRO 7

• Woman's decomposed body found at Florida Walmart
• Teen fighting for her life after getting punched out at party
• Victim says police told him to throw away sensitive documents found in stolen car
• Issaquah bans big rigs from cutting through downtown
• Semi truck crash closes all lanes of East Marginal Way
• Find a ballot drop box near you

Cox Media Group