In an effort to advance local affordable housing efforts, the City of Bellevue’s Office of Housing is inviting affordable housing developers and operators to submit project proposals to receive up to $20 million from the Housing Stability Program and/or up to $10 million from the City's Affordable Housing Fund for housing support work and affordable developments in the city. Project proposals are due by noon on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, with a required pre-application conference occurring no later than Friday, Aug. 22.
Please see below for more information about each program.
Housing Stability Program
The Housing Stability Program (HSP) invests capital funding into targeted affordable and supportive housing developments in Bellevue that serve the city’s most marginalized residents and funds services critical for stable living. The city is making up to $20 million available from the HSP for capital awards and operating, maintenance, and services awards for HSP eligible projects.
HSP awards, funded by a local sales tax and as required by RCW 82.14.530 (HB 1590), must support units for households earning up to 60% AMI and be set-aside for populations limited to:
- Persons with behavioral health disabilities
- Veterans
- Senior citizens
- Persons who are homeless, or at-risk of being homeless, including families with children
- Unaccompanied homeless youth or young adults
- Persons with disabilities
- Domestic violence survivors
City Council direction has also established the following priorities for the Housing Stability Program:
- Provide housing for households earning below 30% of the area median income
- Address and prevent homelessness and housing instability
- Focus on underserved, vulnerable residents in Bellevue
City funding for housing-related human services is detailed separately in Human Services. Information about recently funded projects and more can be found in Funding Affordable Housing.
Affordable Housing Fund
In addition to the Housing Stability Program, the City of Bellevue currently holds a balance of funds generated from Fee-in-Lieu payments and previous City affordable housing appropriations – together, the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF). The Affordable Housing Fund, unlike the existing Housing Stability Program, consists primarily of non-renewable sources that have accumulated over time and now represents an opportunity for the City to make a meaningful, timely infusion of local gap funding.
The City of Bellevue is advertising up to $10M available in AHF. AHF funding may be awarded to projects across the city serving a range of income levels and program types including shelter, rental, and homeownership. Any project that provides affordable rental units below 80% AMI or homeownership units below 100% AMI may apply for AHF funding. Projects will be evaluated based on the program priorities and evaluation criteria identified in the RFP.
Application Information and Materials
Combined Request for Proposals: 2025 Bellevue HSP & AHF RFP
Application Process
Bellevue is a member of A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH), which administers the funding process to invest Bellevue and other cities’ resources for affordable housing across the Eastside. This year's combined RFP is designed to complement and leverage existing funding processes, while creating a significant impact on housing needs in Bellevue.
City of Bellevue funds use Combined Funders Application forms, developed jointly by ARCH with other Public Funders including the State Department of Commerce and King County. All required forms for either the Housing Stability Program or the Affordable Housing Fund (related to Homeownership Projects or Rental Housing, Transitional Housing and Shelter) are available for download on ARCH's website. Please submit the appropriate forms for your proposed development.
Consult the RFP for detailed instructions. Please note that in 2025 applicants must also obtain and submit an ARCH Application Addendum and a LIHTC scoring form from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
2025 Program Schedule
June 2025: Application package made available
August 22, 2025: Preapplication conferences should take place no later than August 22, 2025 (see details below)
September 9, 2025: Applications due to ARCH by 12 PM.
December 2025: Staff recommendation
First Quarter 2025: Recommendation reviewed by City Council
Preapplication Conferences: Applicants are required to schedule a preapplication conference to identify and discuss potential issues. First-time applicants will benefit from meeting early and often with ARCH. Applicants should be prepared to provide a project description identifying:
- Population(s) to be served
- Approximate number of units
- Unit income and affordability
- Type of construction (rehab or new)
- Neighborhood issues
- Whether relocation or displacement will be required (please see local ordinance and guidance on Bellevue relocation and displacement requirements, City Code Chapter 9.21 Relocation Assistance)
- Team members (developer, architect, property manager, if known)
- Likely funding sources.
Applicants are also welcome to solicit early input from ARCH on site or project concept when considering acquisition of a site or building. Applicants applying for operations, maintenance and services funding should indicate interest in that when scheduling, so preapplication meetings can include Bellevue Human Services staff.
Please contact Patrick Tippy, ptippy@bellevuewa.gov to schedule a preapplication meeting.
Applicants are also encouraged to review and incorporate the City of Bellevue’s Supportive Housing Community Engagement Best Practice Guide as appropriate.