Rental Laws Gone Wild
The Carl Haglund Foundation exposes the dysfunctionality of Seattle’s rental and landlord laws
Haglund Foundation Releases Expose Video Targeting Seattle’s Unworkable Rental Laws
Foundation cannot donate free home to homelessness nonprofit.
SEATTLE, WA – The Carl Haglund Foundation has released a new video exposing the insanity of Seattle’s current rental laws. The video chronicles the escapades of a single tenant who has paid no rent for the past year, abuses fellow tenants and staff, is repeatedly arrested, and yet still cannot be evicted. The Foundation is exposing the dysfunctionality of Seattle’s rental laws in the hopes of raising awareness and facilitating change.
“Enough is enough!” decried Carl Haglund, president and founder of The Carl Haglund Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions to homelessness in the Puget Sound area. “I have spent most of my adult life trying to provide workforce housing to the people of Seattle and the City of Seattle stands in the way almost every time. It’s like I am in an abusive relationship. I try to provide housing to people in need and the city attacks me for it every time. At this point, we are not allowed into our own building.”
The Foundations frustrations escalated after they tried to donate a housing facility to Weld, a local nonprofit that provides housing to recently released parolees. The seven-unit building could potentially house 14-16 residents. Instead, it sits empty except for one abusive tenant—Ms. Jennifer Tillman. The building originally housed multiple tenants, but Ms. Tillman systematically harassed almost everyone in the complex to the point they all moved out. She was hit with multiple anti-harassment order to no effect. She was arrested. The property management firm tried to evict her several times. All attempts failed and eventually the City went after the owners. Because Ms. Tillman still occupies the building, it cannot be donated to the nonprofit.
“Seattle really gets what they deserve” said Haglund. “We are facing one of the worst homelessness crises in the country and I am trying to give away housing. But the City of Seattle is harassing me for trying to help. No wonder people are leaving the city in droves.”
Haglund said he expects more retaliation from the city as a result the video. “Every time I try to stand up for myself, the city retaliates by sending inspectors, issuing fines or threatening lawsuits. It costs me hundreds of thousands of dollars and all I am doing is trying to give away housing to the homeless. It’s like the city has gone crazy.”
The video can be accessed at https://www.carlhaglundfoundation.com/projects-1/kwlsyak37jsjkrw52tn8ntz4kr0m98
The Carl Haglund Foundation advocates for citizens suffering from homelessness and opioid addiction. More information and the video can be found at www.carlhaglundfoundation.com.
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