Few of the families from the Highland Village complex. Photo: The Bellevue Reporter
In the last week, Bellevue has seen the impact of collective action. The planned redevelopment of the Highland Village Apartments, one of the last affordable housing options in the area, was halted. Recognizing that the redevelopment of the apartments was not inevitable, as the sale had not gone through and permits had not been issued, residents and community members fought hard to preserve their homes and avoid the mass evictions of 86 families.
The plan to save the apartment complex was revealed on August 5. The King County Housing Authority will finalize the purchase of the apartments in the next thirty days to keep the families from moving. They will be handling the renovations required in the units as well keeping the rent at the same or similar rates.
This huge win is a testament to what bringing together different “systems” can accomplish. The Bellevue agencies that spearheaded the mobilization and support in the community were: Jubilee REACH, Bellevue LifeSpring, Bellevue School District, Eastside Latino Leadership Forum(ELLF), Tenants Union of WA, SeaMar, the Church Council of Greater Seattle and Councilmembers, and State Representative Joan McBride.
While Eastside Pathways was not directly involved in the resolution of the housing issue, it played a role in creating awareness and advocacy by connecting this with the ongoing broader issue of lack of support and services for the most vulnerable in Bellevue and the Eastside. This unprecedented agreement in favor of affordable housing would not have been possible without so many coming together toward a common goal.
More information about this shared success can be found in the following articles:
Resident rejoice over plan to save Bellevue affordable housing complex
Bellevue Affordable Housing Complex Saved
Unprecedented agreement allows 86 low-income families to stay at Bellevue apartment
Article written by Nahyeli Mendivil, communications & operations manager at Eastside Pathways with contribution by Ediberto Flores, Community Care Coordinator at Jubilee REACH