Criminal History Policy

Since July 1,1993 all applicants are routinely screened through the Washington State Patrol for criminal convictions. At the time of application to be a homesharer each applicant is asked to sign the Washington State Patrol Request for criminal history information form granting Shared Housing Services permission to receive this information. Any Shared Housing Services applicant who declines to sign this form will not be referred to potential homesharers.

It is the policy of Shared Housing Services not to refer any applicant for homesharing (based on any information received by the SHS office) who has been convicted of a felony crime, a crime of moral turpitude, a crime of child or adult abuse, or criminal activity involving crimes of physical violence to persons or property within the last ten years.

The following procedures will be followed by Shared Housing Services upon the receipt of the criminal history:

A. Written notice will be mailed to the applicant within ten days of the receipt of the report detailing the criminal history record and Shared Housing Services’ denial of the application.

B. The written notice will state that the applicant has the right to seek review/reconsideration of the denial of the application.

C. To seek review/reconsideration, the applicant must submit a written request to SHS on or before the date specified.

D. Shared Housing Services will refer any applicant’s request for review /reconsideration of a denial of criminal history to a committee of review composed of Shared Housing Services Board Members.

E. The applicant will be notified in writing of the date, time and place for the review committee hearing. This written notice will specify that the applicant has the opportunity to appear personally before the review committee and has the right to be represented by counsel, the right to present witnesses at the review committee hearing, the right to present witnesses at the review committee hearing, and the right to present written and oral evidence.

F. The applicant will be sent written notice of the decision of the review committee and the reason(s) that were the basis of the decision.