Washington lawmakers are on the brink of making history — but with time running out, their decision could either offer desperately needed stability or push thousands closer to homelessness.

House Bill 1217 is a lifeline. It would establish one of the strongest rent stabilization laws in the country, capping rent hikes and ensuring fair notice so renters aren’t blindsided by massive increases. But now, with the finish line in sight, last-minute amendments in the Senate threaten to gut the heart of the bill — raising the cap from 7% to 10% plus inflation and stripping protections from anyone living in a single-family home.

That’s 38% of renters who would be left behind..

Just ask Duana Ricks-Johnson, a disabled veteran and single mother who has moved her family five times in four years just to survive Washington’s out-of-control rents. Duana lives on a fixed income from her VA pension and fled to Vancouver to escape domestic violence and be near her twin sister. This bill could be the difference between a home and yet another painful upheaval.

“If this doesn’t go through, it just puts a whole myriad of things in motion, like a landslide that my little family wouldn’t be able to recover from,” she said. “Where do we go?”

Duana’s story is not unique. Thousands of Washingtonians are one rent hike away from losing everything. Renters like Dominique Horn, who’s paying half her income on rent and fears she’ll be priced out of Camas, can’t afford another delay or diluted bill. It took her family over $6,000 just to get into their current home — a cost that could plunge many into homelessness with one unexpected move.

Rent stabilization is about giving people the ability to plan their lives, protect their children, and stay in the communities they’ve built. 

Lawmakers must fix the bill. Restore the 7% cap. Protect renters in single-family homes. Deliver the stability people are begging for — because anything less is a betrayal.

We urge the Washington Legislature: don’t let politics outweigh people’s lives. Pass a strong, inclusive version of HB 1217. Renters are watching. Families are depending on you.

Photo: Lindsey Wasson / AP