With the cost of renting or owning housing in Bellevue rising faster than income for many in the region, housing is not affordable to a significant portion of the population. City Council recognizes that it is critically important to provide a safe, healthy and affordable place to live for people of all income levels in order to sustain Bellevue’s livability and economic vitality. This ongoing program will identify what it will take to have a healthy housing market that:
- Provides affordability across a range of incomes mirroring our population and workforce;
- Provides a variety of affordable housing choices that meet the needs of our community including:
- Young persons in college or just entering the job market;
- First-time home buyers or new employees who are ready to purchase a home;
- Our aging population, especially those on fixed/limited income, who wish to remain in the community; and
- Families that want to keep their children in Bellevue schools
- Preserves the integrity of single-family areas while considering, through the neighborhood planning process, housing that can accommodate a wider spectrum of needs, and foster ongoing investments by individual homeowners.