Needs many, even in Bellevue
Ah, Bellevue. Affluent. Upper Crust. The Good Life.
Not for everyone.
A recent report to the Bellevue City Council paints a far different picture of the city than the one that turns up in glossy magazines and chatty blogs.
People in Bellevue are hurting.
The recession – surprise? – touches everyone. In Bellevue, that means a significant rise in unemployment, emergency financial assistance needs, food bank demand and domestic violence services, according to the study prepared by city staff from the 2009-2010 Human Services Needs Update.
The numbers – and the trends – are sobering.
Unemployment: The current economic downturn has resulted in significant job losses and high unemployment rates in Bellevue and elsewhere. Though Bellevue’s unemployment rate is lower (7.2 percent) than the statewide rate (9.8 percent), there has been considerable impact in the city. Also, more residents are reporting that they are underemployed, working part time and earning less than at previous jobs.
Service requests: Demand for services from non-profit agencies has increased dramatically, including emergency financial assistance (49 percent increase), food banks (31 percent increase) and domestic violence services (50 percent increase).
In the Bellevue School District, the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch jumped from 17 percent in October 2008 to 21 percent (3,580 students) in October 2009.
Affordable housing: Demand for homeless housing continues to outpace supply. The East King County Plan to End Homelessness estimated that 1,845 more units are needed to meet the need in the next two years.
Health care: More people under age 65 lack health insurance, and therefore have limited access to medical care. From 2005 to 2007, an average 8.4 percent of Bellevue residents reported they were uninsured, up from 5 percent in 2001. That percentage is expected to grow due to the high unemployment rate, according to the Needs Update.
Services for older adults: 14.4 percent of Bellevue’s population are older adults who “age in place” in their homes. There are few services available to help them.
Diverse population: The ethnic diversity in Bellevue continues to grow. The latest American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that almost 31 percent of residents are foreign born. The Bellevue School District reports 81 languages spoken, with 30 percent of students speaking a first language other than English.
Transportation: Inadequate public transportation was the top household problem as reported by respondents to the phone survey in 2009, moving up from fourth highest in 2007.
Compounding all of the above is the fact that the national recession also has hit all levels of government as well as those in the private sector who fund human services. In short: needs are up, help is down.
Are there places worse off than Bellevue? Probably. Does that make hunger or poverty any less painful to people here. Of course not.
This summer the city’s Human Services Commission will develop recommendations to the City Council regarding allocations of money to help residents in need. This Needs Update should become a key tool for the city – along with community agencies and faith-based groups – to assure that those who have the greatest needs are put first in line for the help.
– Craig Groshart, The Bellevue Reporter
