Bellevue Begins Temporary Homeless Camp Rule Update

BELLEVUE, WA — The Bellevue City Council on Monday decided begin a process to update city regulations around temporary homeless camps. The move comes ahead of the expiration of a federal consent decree that governs how city code regulates encampments.

The issue dates back to 2005 when Temple B’nai Torah and the nonprofit SHARE/WHEEL sued Bellevue over the city's encampment law. The suit resulted in a consent decree that set up a process for religious organizations to host temporary encampments. Three local churches and Temple B’nai Torah have hosted encampments since 2006.

In July 2018, the City Council approved a new ordinance regulating homeless shelters. During that time, the Council asked city staff to evaluate how to update the temporary encampment regulations ahead of the consent decree expiration in January, 2020.

Over the next few months, the Council will discuss code changes, with possible approval of new encampment code by December. City staff have already gathered input from local community groups and encampment hosts. Some early suggestions for the new code include: limiting encampments to 120-day stays with 12-month gaps; eliminating a litter patrol requirement, but adding neighborhood meetings; and requiring health and safety standards like lighting, garbage removal, and access to toilets.

Bellevue has set up a webpage with information about the process.