Bellevue Homeless Problem Should’ve Never Existed

I’ve lived in Bellevue for over a decade, and the biggest change I’ve seen recently is the rise in homelessness — something that, until a few years ago, was never part of this city. Bellevue had always been a safe, family-oriented community that people were willing to pay double for compared to Seattle. My family chose this city for its peace of mind, its schools, and its security.

But that’s changed since the city decided to build a homeless shelter here. It was well-intentioned, but it has attracted people from outside Bellevue — many coming from Seattle — and brought issues that simply didn’t exist before. When a city builds a shelter, it inevitably becomes a destination for those seeking those services, and in Bellevue’s case, that means drawing in homelessness from surrounding areas rather than solving a local problem.

Residents now worry about safety near schools and public areas, and property values — which reflect both perception and reality — have already taken a hit. It’s not that people here lack compassion. It’s that Bellevue and Seattle are fundamentally different cities, and what works for one doesn’t always work for the other.

Instead of duplicating what Seattle has struggled with, Bellevue should focus on what’s always made it stand out: safety, cleanliness, and a strong community environment. Helping the homeless is important — but it should be done where the issue actually exists, not where it risks creating new problems.