In 1986 the City Council resolved that the city would act to ensure that the basic survival needs of Bellevue residents are met. The city serves as a planner, facilitator, funder, and educator for support systems that help people through economic and personal crisis and provide low- and moderate-income persons with opportunities to succeed. King County 211 offers more information about local human resources providers.
The Human Services division of the Parks & Community Services Department administers the Human Services Fund.
Mission
The work of Bellevue Human Services is to support residents with low and moderate incomes most impacted by systemic inequities, who are disproportionately people of color, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Vision
Bellevue is a community in which each and every member has equitable access and opportunity to meet their essential physical, behavioral health, economic, and social needs; to feel a sense of belonging; and to thrive.
Meeting Basic Needs
The City of Bellevue defines human services as those provided specifically to individuals and families to meet basic human needs in order to:
Advance Bellevue as a community in which each and every member has access and opportunity to meet their essential physical and behavioral health, economic, recreational and social needs, feel a sense of belonging, and have an opportunity to thrive.
Increase opportunities throughout the city for all community members to have access to safe, affordable housing, with the supports needed to remain stable, and prevent homelessness.
Bellevue’s Role in Human Services
Bellevue takes one of the following four roles in human services, depending on the need:
Planner: assess and anticipate needs and develop appropriate policy and program responses.
Facilitator: convene and engage others in community problem-solving to develop and improve services.
Funder: disburse federal Community Development Block Grant and General Fund dollars to support a network of services that respond to community needs.
Educator: share information and increase the understanding of human service needs
The City of Bellevue partners with more than 80 agencies to fund over 60 programs that provide health and human services primarily for low- and moderate-income Bellevue residents. These programs are organized into categories of need:
Shelter
Housing stability
Financial Assistance
Food & Basic Needs
Survivor Advocacy & Safety from Violence
Behavioral Health
Childcare & Early Learning
Medical & Dental
Navigation, Legal, case management & other supportive services
Fostering well-being in the face of bias, hate and discrimination
These programs represent a continuum of services to ensure that the city is a good steward of the funds it distributes.
Contracts are awarded through a competitive process and Partner agencies are monitored to ensure that they are financially sound, consumer-friendly and provide measurable outcomes to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs.
Funding Cycle
Bellevue's human service funding is on a two-year cycle, with second-year funding contingent on contract performance and program outcomes. For more information about funding criteria and timelines, please contact Christy Stangland, Senior Human Services Planner (CStangland@bellevuewa.gov or 425-452-6452).