Bellevue Eyes Deadline For Lincoln Center Shelter Funding

BELLEVUE, WA — The Bellevue City Council will consider giving Congregations For the Homeless (CFH) until May to raise about $750,000 to turn Lincoln Center into a year-round men's shelter.

The Council has been deliberating recently on how to pay for upgrades at Lincoln Center, including whether to use public money for the project. City staff is recommending that the Council give CFH until May 20 to raise the money, with a tentative construction start date of June 1.

If CFH has not raised enough money by May 20, the Council might take another path — keeping Lincoln Center as a winter-only shelter, using public money for the project, or giving CFH more time to raise money.

Lincoln Center was originally built as an office building, and it does not meet code requirements for a year round dwelling. The shelter closes between May 1 and Oct. 31 each year because it doesn't have a sprinkler system.

At the same time, city staff is asking the Council to look at a public engagement process. Under that plan, properties within 1,000 feet of Lincoln Center would be asked for feedback on how CFH can best communicate with the neighborhood about what's going on at the shelter.

CFH is in the midst of a major fundraising campaign to fund shelter renovations.

The shelter upgrade will be discussed Monday night at a Bellevue Council study session.