As part of its efforts to address homelessness, the City of Bellevue launched a safe parking pilot program in 2024 to support local residents who are living in their vehicles. The city's program offers a clean, safe, off-street parking area, with nearby access to restrooms, showers and kitchen facilities for up to 20 vehicles at a time. It also provides case management and related support services through operator 4 Tomorrow, which aids clients as they transition into long-term housing. Bellevue’s current program primarily serves families with children and is open to people from all demographics backgrounds who are using their vehicle as a sole place of residence.
As of February 2026, the program has supported a total of 63 households, which included 95 children. More than 84% of these households (53 in total) have been able to move out of homelessness as a direct result of program support.
If you are currently in need of safe parking services, visit Shelters and Safe Parking. If you are experiencing homelessness and would like assistance or have additional questions about the Safe Parking program, please contact Nico Quijano at 425-452-4105 or nquijano@bellevuewa.gov.
General Safe Parking FAQs
What is safe parking?
Safe parking programs provide people living in vehicles with a place to park, rest, access sanitary facilities and connect to social services and other vital resources. Numerous communities on the Eastside and across the state and the country have established successful safe parking programs.
Why offer safe parking in Bellevue?
In short, because there is a growing need. Access to safe parking in Bellevue is part of an expansive network of services and safety nets to help our most vulnerable community members and support a path to stable housing.
In Bellevue, as in nearly every city in our region, residents are living in vehicles and many of these households include children. Recent annual counts have found more than 50 vehicles serving as a primary residence for people. Last year, the Bellevue School District reported that 651 students experienced homelessness.
Recognizing the community need and consistent with city Comprehensive Plan policies aimed at supporting an intentional local response to homelessness, the city council prioritized exploring a local safe parking program in 2021. In 2024, the city’s Safe Parking Pilot Program was established with the goal of helping people residing in their cars – particularly families with children – to find and obtain stable housing.
Who does Bellevue’s safe parking program serve?
The city’s program prioritizes families with children who are living in their vehicles. Many participating families have children who are enrolled in the Bellevue School District.
How many people can enroll in Bellevue’s Safe Parking?
Bellevue’s program allows a maximum of 20 vehicles at a time. Since the pilot launched, the average number of residents per vehicle has been less than three people (adults and children).
Where is the city’s program located?
Bellevue’s Safe Parking Pilot is currently located on city-owned property near downtown Bellevue.
What services are provided?
Participants work directly with professional staff that help them overcome barriers to finding housing. They also have access to on-site restrooms, laundry and shower facilities, as well as a kitchen and indoor space for families with children to use during the day.
How are program participants screened?
If a family experiencing homelessness and living in a vehicle is interested in the city’s Safe Parking program, they must go through several steps to be considered for participation.
- Complete a pre-screening meeting with City of Bellevue Homelessness Outreach staff
- Meet with 4 Tomorrow program staff
- Commit to a case plan that puts them on a path to permanent housing within 90 days
- Agree to follow an on-site code of conduct
- Pass a formal background check
What safety protocols are in place?
The Program Safety Plan, developed in partnership with Bellevue Police Department, includes the following measures:
- A multi-step screening and background check process for all program participants
- A combination of program, security and onsite staff available around the clock
- A 24/7 public telephone hotline monitored by program support staff
The Participant Rules, Policies and Procedures address protocols that ensure a safe and comfortable environment. Participants must also abide by the program’s Code of Conduct, which includes the following requirements:
- Possession or use of illegal drugs is not permitted at the facility.
- Alcohol use is not permitted at the facility.
- No weapons are permitted at the facility.
- No violence is permitted at the facility.
- No open flames are permitted in the parking lot.
- No trespassing onto private property in the surrounding neighborhood is permitted.
Who is involved?
- City of Bellevue - Following unanimously city council direction to launch a pilot safe parking program, the city conducted a competitive procurement process and selected 4 Tomorrow as the program operator. The city now funds and monitors the operational contract. City homelessness outreach staff also directly help individuals find long-term housing and work with community members, local organizations and other entities to address issues related to homelessness.
- 4 Tomorrow – Bellevue-based nonprofit 4 Tomorrow offers a variety of services in the community, including mental health assistance, legal aid, resources for rent and move-in costs, and hotel vouchers, and has facilitated the city’s Safe Parking Pilot Program since 2024. As program operator, they have had significant success in helping program participants overcome barriers, find permanent housing and attend to the safety and security of program participants and the surrounding community.
How has the city’s Safe Parking Pilot performed?
Since Bellevue's Safe Parking launched, 4 Tomorrow and city staff have helped more than 50 families with more than 90 children find stable housing. The city will continue to maintain the conditions that have led to this program’s significant success, including onsite case management and staffing support, as well as security and safety considerations.
With an emphasis on creating a conducive environment for families on the path to housing stability, the city’s program has operated since 2024 with no disruptions or problems to neighboring properties. Program operator 4 Tomorrow is required to maintain a neighborhood telephone hotline for community members to express concerns and, to date, has not received any complaints.