By: Jayden Park
During the recent Bellevue city council meeting on October 29th, the 2024-2044 Housing and Development Plan included in the 20-year Comprehensive Plan was unanimously passed by the council. It aims to accommodate 35,000 additional housing units and 70,000 new jobs by 2044. This policy is necessary to address the increasing rates of homelessness in Bellevue: the cost of living for a family of four has dramatically risen to 86% since 2001, and over 300 students in the Bellevue School District are experiencing homelessness in 26 out of 28 schools, and 175 children live in doubled-up houses (living with family, friends, or other non-relatives due to economic need).
Additionally, Bellevue’s demographic trends highlight that young adults aged 20-44 years, as well as children and seniors, need housing. While other factors exist, the numbers have increased over the past two decades because of Bellevue’s exclusive focus on multifamily and rental houses, which include multiple separate housing units within one building or several buildings (A.K.A. an apartment), over single-family housing units, which limits housing choices for Bellevue residents.
According to the Draft of the Comprehensive Plan, “lower-income households are significantly more likely to be cost-burdened, with 74% of households earning at or below 50% of area median income (AMI) and spending more than 30% of their income on housing. As estimated by the King County allocation of affordable housing needs, Bellevue will have to add approximately 29,000 housing units affordable to those earning 80% or less of the area median income by 2044.” This excerpt from the Draft of the Comprehensive Plan highlights Bellevue’s challenge in addressing housing affordability. The high-cost burden limits the ability to meet other basic needs, placing Bellevue residents at higher risk of financial insecurity and potentially even homelessness. Addressing the gap by 2044 is critical not only for ensuring stable housing but also for fostering a more inclusive community where essential workers and lower-income families can afford to live.
The projected effects of the plan can be accurately captured by Mayor Lynne Robinson, who calls it a “tremendous accomplishment” that creates an “equitable opportunity for a high quality of life for all our residents.”
References:
Bellevue Lifespring. No Date. Five Must-Know Facts About Homelessness in Bellevue.
Downtown Bellevue Network. (2024, November 6). Bellevue Council Approves 2024-2044 Housing and Development Plan.
Government of Bellevue. No Date. Draft Bellevue 2044 Comprehensive Plan Housing.
City of Bellevue. (2024). Draft Bellevue 2044 Comprehensive Plan: Housing Element. https://bellevuewa.gov/sites/default/files/media/pdf_document/2024/cdd-23-673-cp-housing.pdf
The Registry. (2024, October 29). Bellevue City Council Approves 20-year Comprehensive Plan Update.