Eviction filings in Washington skyrocket

Every four months, Philippe Knab, the reentry and eviction defense program director for Washington’s Office of Civil Legal Aid, compiles a report on eviction trends across the state. Since 2021, each review has painted a worse picture than before – especially the most recent one.

“The number of people being displaced right now is at a historic high in Washington state,” said Knab. “January 2025 was the single highest month we’ve ever seen seasonally. February and March were just a hair under that.”

In King County alone, eviction filings in January 2025 were 66% higher than pre-pandemic levels. “It’s pretty mind-boggling,” he said.

Evictions in Washington have been steadily increasing over the last few years, with no signs of slowing. The spike stems from rising rents coupled with stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing and the expiration of pandemic-era eviction protections such as increased rental assistance. Filings statewide reached an all-time high in 2024, having increased by 53% since 2019. And fiscal year 2025 is on pace to surpass those numbers.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/06/05/eviction-filings-in-washington-skyrocket/