Published August 28 2020
Funds to address immediate basic needs in Bellevue
On Monday, the City Council held a special meeting to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) funding to meet immediate needs in the community as part of the city’s COVID-19 response. The council held the meeting during the August recess so the funding could reach the community as soon as possible to meet the month-to-month needs in Bellevue, particularly for food security and other basic needs.
At the Aug. 3 council meeting, the council passed an ordinance authorizing the city to use CARES Act funding, including $500,000 to meet the most urgent human services needs in the community such as food and housing. Specifically, the council allocated $300,000 to address food insecurity and $200,000 to emergency financial assistance for residents.
On Aug. 18, the Human Services Commission voted to approve grants to four nonprofit agencies meeting the city’s eligibility criteria to address food insecurity. Two of the grants were more than $90,000 and required resolutions from the council to be distributed.
In determining which agencies should be given these funds, the city considered several factors, including speed to get funds into the community, available reach, and whether the agency has existing partners in the community to help facilitate food and supply distribution to residents.
The council unanimously passed a motion to approve two resolutions allocating $127,000 to Hopelink to purchase food for the Bellevue Food Bank and $160,000 to the Bellevue School District to distribute food and supplies for other basic needs through their Family Connection Centers. The commission also awarded $10,000 to the Salvation Army to purchase food for its free community meal program and $3,000 to the Renewal Food Bank for food as well as hygiene supplies.
“Supplying food and hygiene products has been paramount during the pandemic, with many agencies seeing demand more than double since March,” said Mayor Lynne Robinson. “We are fortunate in Bellevue to have community partners including Hopelink, the Bellevue School District and so many others who are meeting the immediate basic needs of our community every day.”
The agencies will have until Dec. 31 to expend the funds. A replay of the special meeting is available on Bellevue Television.