New rules for Bellevue homeless shelters get narrow approval

With a 4-to-3 vote, the Bellevue City Council opened the doors to permanent homeless shelters in the city.

Timeline: Understanding Seattle’s homeless issues

The council passed a land use code amendment Monday night that formalizes the steps that must be taken in order to build a shelter.

Bellevue doesn’t have a permanent homeless shelter. There’s a women’s emergency shelter and a men’s emergency shelter that opens in the winter.

“The time to approve a land use code amendment that permits the siting of a permanent men’s homeless shelter in Bellevue with supportive services and housing is now,” Deputy Mayor Lynne Robinson said.

Not all agree.

“It’s a false argument of like we have to do something. Yes, we all want to do something, but there’s a difference between doing something the right way and the wrong way,” Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis said.

Earlier this year, Bellevue City Council declared its intent to allow for permanent homeless shelters.

During the process leading up to Monday night’s vote, the city surveyed hundreds of people regarding the rule changes that will pave the way for shelters. Like the council itself, respondents were split. Some worried that shelters will invite crime, while others said fears are unwarranted.

The community divide was best illustrated within the public feedback portion of the survey, where nearly 1,000 people responded. You can read some of that feedback here.

Part of the city council’s 20-year vision includes establishing a permanent winter shelter for men.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest