Fair Housing
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Fair Housing at HASCO
HASCO Policy
HASCO, the Housing Authority of Snohomish County, works to prevent discrimination in all aspects of our services, including the application process and housing programs.
We do not deny any family or individual the opportunity to access HASCO programs or services based on age, color, creed, disability, familial or marriage status, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.
HASCO complies with Federal, State and local anti-discrimination laws, rules and regulations governing fair housing, and those regarding equal opportunity in housing and employment.
Reasonable Accommodation
You can request a reasonable accommodation if you have a disability that creates a need for a change to one of HASCO's programs. Reasonable Accommodation requests cannot cause an extreme financial burden or change the fundamental features of the housing program.
HASCO may ask your provider to complete a statement about your disability and the requested accommodation.
Submit this completed form to Housing@hasco.org
If you have questions about the HASCO reasonable accommodation process, please look at the Reasonable Accommodation FAQ. Preguntas frecuentes sobre adaptaciones razonables disponibles aquí.
If you need help making a reasonable accommodation request, please contact HASCO Legal Affairs Coordinator Christine Kane at ckane@hasco.org.
For voucher holders, here is a short resource about asking a private landlord for accommodations related to your rental unit.
VAWA
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law designed to protect the housing of individuals (regardless of gender or sexual identity) who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
HASCO applicants, clients, and tenants should not be denied or terminated from HASCO’s programs for circumstances related to their status as a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Specific housing protections under VAWA may include:
- Applicants, participants, and tenants cannot be denied admission or terminated based on having experienced domestic violence.
- Applicants, participants, and tenants cannot be terminated for criminal activity related to domestic violence if:
- The criminal activity was done by another household member or guest, or
- The tenant was the victim (or threatened victim).
- Incidents of domestic violence cannot be considered serious or repeated lease violations to take adverse action against applicants, participants, and tenants who are domestic violence survivors.
- If an applicant, tenant, or client family breaks up because of an occurrence of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the victim must retain assistance.
- Applicants, participants, and tenants have a right to emergency transfers and lease bifurcations, so that they can live in a unit that is safe.
- Applicants, participants, and tenants have a right to confidentiality; information related to their status as a survivor that is requested from third parties shall be protected; and this information shall be restricted among HASCO employees to those employees that are required to know the information to process VAWA related requests.
- Applicants, participants, and tenants should not face adverse action for receiving services from law enforcement and emergency services related to incidents of domestic violence.
- Applicants, participants, and tenants have a right not to face retaliation, coercion, or intimidation for seeking VAWA protection.
- Other protections may be available to applicants, participants, and tenants as reasonable to protect their access to safe housing from the collateral consequences associated with being a survivor of domestic violence; each VAWA request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
More information about your rights under VAWA can be found in the HUD form 5380 which explains your notice of occupancy rights under the Violence Against Women Act.
You can use HUD form 5382 to make your VAWA request with HASCO staff. You can send a completed copy of this form to VAWA@HASCO.org or share it with the HASCO staff person you are working with if you feel comfortable doing so.
HASCO’s Emergency Transfer Plan for survivors of VAWA crimes can be found here, and the Emergency Transfer Request form is available here.
Additional information about VAWA can be found on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s VAWA website. This resource includes frequently asked questions and links to resources.
If you are need of immediate assistance, please contact 911, Snohomish County Domestic Violence Services at (425) 388-3411, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 (800) 799-SAFE (7233).
Language Access
HASCO strives to provide the public with meaningful access to its programs and services and is committed to equity in access for all people regardless of English proficiency.
If you are in need of an interpreter to assist you with the paperwork or to respond to our letter, please let us know.
Arabic
اذا كنت بحاجة الى مترجم لمساعدتك بالاوراق او الرد على رسالتنا، الرجاء اعلامنـــــا.
Bosnian
Ako ti trebas prevodioca za pomoc oko papira ili da se javis nama na nasa pisma, molimo te da nam to kazes ili stavis do znanja.
Farsi
اگربراي پركردن فرم و يا جواب دادن به نامه ما به مترجم احتياج داريد, لطفا به ما اطلاع دهيد.
Hearing Impaired
Sign language interpreters are available upon request to assist you with the paperwork or to respond to our letter.
Russian
Если вы нуждаетесь в услугах переводчика, чтобы помочь вам заполнить формы или ответить на наше письмо, пожалуйста сообщите нам об этом.
Somali
Hadii aad ubaahan tahay turjubaan adiga kaa caawiyo warqadaha qoraalka ama jawaabta warqadaheena, fadlan nasoo ogaysiin.
Spanish
Si usted necesita un intérprete que le ayude con los papeles o para responder a nuestra carta, por favor informenos.
Ukrainian
Якщо вам потрібні послуги перекладача, щоб допомогти заповнити документи або відповісти на наш лист, будь-ласка повідомте нас.
Vietnamese
Xin hãy báo cho chúng tôi biết nếu quí vi cần thông dịch viên để giúp quí vị điền giấy tờ hay trả lời thư của chúng tôi.
You may use this questionnaire to share your family’s language preferences.
In some cases, HASCO may be able to provide you with translated copies of documents. If translated copies are not available, HASCO can use an interpreter to review documents with you.
Civil Rights Grievance Procedure
This Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Washington State Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, religion, familial status, or marital status in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the Housing Authority of Snohomish County (HASCO). HASCO’s Personnel Policy governs employment-related complaints of discrimination.
The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date, and description of the problem. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.
The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or their designee as soon as possible but not later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:
ADA Coordinator
12711 4th Ave W
Everett, WA 98204
Fax: (425) 290-5618
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA Coordinator or their designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days of the meeting, the ADA Coordinator or their designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille, or audio tape. The response will explain the position of HASCO and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
If the response by the ADA Coordinator or their designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or their designee may appeal the decision within 15 calendar days after receipt of the response to HASCO’s Executive Director or their designee.
Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Executive Director or their designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 15 calendar days after the meeting, the Executive Director or their designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.
If the response by the Executive Director or their designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant may file a complaint with the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
All written complaints received by the ADA Coordinator or their designee, appeals to the Executive Director or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by HASCO for at least six years.
Source of Income Discrimination
Washington State has a source of income discrimination law which prohibits landlords for refusing to rent or otherwise discriminate against applicants and tenants based on any legitimate source of income that they may receive.
This means that landlords cannot refuse to rent to applicants because they have a housing choice voucher, or because they receive Social Security or other public benefits.
The Washington State Source of Income Discrimination statute can be found at RCW § 59.18.255.
More information about source of income discrimination can be found on the Washington Law Help website.
Community Resource Guide
HASCO’s Community Services team maintains a guidebook of community resources that are available in Snohomish County. That guidebook is available here.