SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane City Council is expected to vote Monday night on a proposed ordinance that could make the city the first in the nation to implement a “Ban the Address” ordinance. The policy is aimed at removing barriers to employment for people experiencing homelessness.
The measure would amend Spokane’s municipal code to prohibit employers from requiring a job applicant to disclose their address or housing history prior to receiving an offer of employment.
Supporters of the ordinance argue that requiring an address on job applications disproportionately affects people without stable housing and contributes to discrimination against the homeless population.
When the ordinance was dicussed at a “Homeless Roundtable” discussion back in October, some local business owners weren’t as optimistic.
“You can’t enforce the laws that you have right now, what is the point in adding another law that does not get enforced?” asked Curtis Rystadt, owner of the Indigo Hotel.
Rystadt said he is all for hiring people experiencing homelessness and having good neighbor agreements. What he wants, though, is for people to enforce the current laws.
The ordinance would make it unlawful for employers to “require an applicant to provide an address or residence history until after granting a provisional offer of employment”.
The City Council held a final reading of the ordinance last week. A final decision could come during Monday night’s council meeting.
If passed, Spokane would be the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to adopt such a policy.
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