The City of Bellevue and King County are working in partnership with Congregations for the Homeless and Imagine Housing to site a permanent men’s shelter and supportive housing on King County property at 14350 SE Eastgate Way in Bellevue.

The public is invited to learn more, ask questions, voice concerns and offer ideas to improve the services offered to homeless people on the Eastside at a meeting on Sept. 29, 7 p.m., at the Champion Centre church, 2649 145th Pl. SE.

The site being considered for the shelter is in a mixed-use area of Eastgate, just north of Interstate 90, on property shared with Public Health – Seattle & King County, adjacent to a King County Metro park-and-ride.

The “One Night Count” of the homeless in January found nearly 4,500 people in King County living without shelter. On the Eastside in selected urban areas, 245 were found unsheltered.

Eastside cities have been working together to provide a regional solution to homelessness on the Eastside. Redmond provides shelter for homeless youth and Kirkland is working to provide a shelter for homeless women and children.

Bellevue has partnered with Congregations for the Homeless in the operation of the Eastside Winter Shelter in Bellevue for homeless men since 2008. The men’s shelter, however, does not have a permanent location and has needed to change location over the years.

This new partnership between the City of Bellevue and King County with Congregations for the Homeless and Imagine Housing will include a permanent men’s shelter (capacity of serving 100 men a night), with additional supportive housing units (approximately 60 units), a drop-in day center, accommodating public health services, as well as space for social service providers.

The goal is to have a permanent location for the men’s shelter by late 2019. More information about the project is available at www.bellevuewa.gov/eastside-mens-shelter.htm.