Tacoma For All Claims Victory in Fight Against Eviction of Tacoma Educator and Family

Tacoma substitute teacher Cathy Pick and her family are no longer facing imminent homelessness after a successful community effort to defend the family ended in a settlement with their landlord on Oct. 9 that will ensure the Pick family remains housed. Tacoma For All led the community effort, which included a well-attended rally, a Gofundme that raised over $12,000, and the pro bono efforts of a local attorney. 

“We’re grateful beyond words for the support of the community,” Cathy Pick said. “Throughout this fight, we’ve come to understand the power of Initiative #1 for keeping families housed, and how badly the community needs Initiative #1 to prevent more families like ours from falling into homelessness.”

Cathy and Kevin fell behind on rent last year, leading to entry of a court-ordered repayment plan. When they missed their August installment, instead of granting a second chance and allowing them to resume payments, their landlord moved to evict them and a writ of eviction was issued in mid-September. The sheriff’s department contacted Cathy soon after and gave every indication that the eviction would be swiftly carried out, even though Cathy and her husband Kevin both obtained good jobs in September and were fully prepared to pay their rent and resume payments toward past due rent. Attorney Beverly Allen represented the family and negotiated a settlement prior to their final court hearing that dismissed the eviction.

The Pick family's apartment is owned by two San Francisco billionaire private equity investors, Hamilton and Zanze. “Billionaire investors and corporate landlords are rapidly re-shaping Tacoma’s rental market, contributing to rising rents, displacement, and the highest eviction rate in the state. Cathy’s story makes clear why we need Initiative #1,” said Ann Dorn, a leader with Tacoma for All.

The eviction protections in Initiative #1 would have provided Cathy’s family a right to a second chance. Because Cathy is an educator and works as a substitute school teacher for Tacoma Public Schools, and Cathy and Kevin are the parents of a 14 year old, they would be protected under the measure if enacted, which bans school year evictions of educators and students. 

“Cathy and Kevin had every intention and desire to pay their rent, they just needed the chance to get back on track,” said Beverly Allen, an attorney for the Picks and organizer with Tacoma for All. “Nobody wants an eviction on their record, or wage garnishments from a judgment for unpaid rent. Working class folks know how serious those situations can be. People just want the chance to catch up, and to avoid their families and students being turned into the streets during the coldest parts of the year. Initiative #1 will provide those protections for everyone.”

The Pick family was facing homelessness, and unable to find a family shelter, so they were also going to be split up in a search for shelter beds. They would have been forced to surrender their beloved cats as well.

“Tacoma For All is honored to stand with the Pick family, and thankful to our community for their support and solidarity,” said Ann Dorn, a leader with Tacoma For All. “When we stand with tenants, we don’t back down. Now we are urging Tacoma to vote for Initiative #1 and ensure that all families with students and educators have the chance for a similar successful outcome like the Pick family, and so we can keep our kids in school, our families housed, and build a better Tacoma for all of us.”

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Initiative #1 is also known as the Tenant Bill of Rights. For more information: www.Tacoma4All.org.