The city of Bellevue kicked off the process for work on the 2019-20 Human Services Needs Update at the city council study session on April 1.

The Human Services Needs Update is a report that the Human Services Commission will use to guide funding recommendations to council in 2021 and 2022. The report will present information on human service needs throughout the city and will identify areas that have gaps of service or services inaccessible to Bellevue residents.

Christy Stagland, human services associate planner, said staff from Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish and Issaquah are collaborating on outreach to immigrant and refugee communities on the Eastside to understand and address their needs.

“Outreach will include both one on one interviews and community conversations,” she said.

Stagland also noted that the city will prioritize information surrounding mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and transportation.

The report collects information regarding community needs across all demographics, faith communities, cultural communities, and economic levels. Stagland said that qualitative and quantitative data will be collected through surveys, community conversations and one-on-one interviews.

Patrick Foran, director of Parks and Community Services, said that while the Needs Update is critical work to the Human Services Commission it is also anticipated by the approximately 50 community organizations that apply for human services funding each year.

Stagland said the collection of data, surveys and community interviews will take place in the summer, and the city council will receive a draft of the report in November.

Work on the draft will continue through the winter and the findings will be presented to the city council in January 2020.