Bellevue, Washington is making nearly $25 million available for affordable and supportive housing developments in 2026, a significant push to shelter the city's most vulnerable residents in one of the nation's most expensive housing markets.
The funding comes in two pieces. About $13.95 million flows from an ongoing sales tax program the Bellevue City Council created to serve residents earning at or below 60% of area median income. Eligible households include people experiencing homelessness, veterans, seniors, domestic violence survivors, people with behavioral health disabilities, and unaccompanied youth. A second pool of up to $11 million comes from the city's Housing Reserve, built up over years from fees paid by developers in lieu of building affordable units on-site.
That second pool carries particular urgency. City officials have flagged the Housing Reserve as a largely one-time opportunity: the funds are non-renewable, and there is no guarantee they will be available in future cycles. The message to housing developers is clear: apply now.
The timing reflects both an opening and a pressure point. Bellevue's median home price now exceeds $1.4 million, amid the expansion of Microsoft in neighboring Redmond and Amazon's growing downtown campus. That prosperity has pushed out low-wage workers, seniors on fixed incomes, and people with disabilities faster than the city has been able to build replacement housing.
The funding is administered by ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing), a consortium of Eastside cities that has been connecting suburban jurisdictions to state and county housing dollars since 1992. Applications are processed through a shared form used jointly by the Washington Department of Commerce and King County, making it easier for experienced housing developers to stack multiple funding sources on a single project.
Details on the full program and how to apply are available through ARCH's housing trust fund page. Applications are due Sept. 11 at 5 p.m.
