Bellevue outlines operational changes and increased outreach after neighbors raise safety concerns at Eastgate housing campus

City of Bellevue staff and nonprofit operators told the City Council on Sept. 16 that they are increasing outreach and changing shelter practices at the Eastgate Housing Campus after nearby residents reported escalating public-safety and quality‑of‑life problems. Bianca Siegel, director of the City of Bellevue Office of Housing, summarized operational changes and coordination with Porchlight (the men's shelter) and Plymouth Crossing (permanent supportive housing). "They are changing their bed reservation system, and scheduling in a way that allows men to not need to be on campus early in the morning in order to secure a bed that night," Siegel said. She said Porchlight has also increased certain guest sanctions, extending some suspensions from three days to 30 days. The changes come after multiple residents who spoke during oral communications described ongoing problems near the campus, including people sleeping on sidewalks, loitering, trash and encampments in nearby greenbelts, and at least one murder close to the shelter. Julia Tai, who described herself as a neighbor and member of Porchlight’s community advisory group, said, "Problems have been steadily escalating around Porchlight's campus and our neighborhood" and listed repeated incidents she has reported to 911 or the My Bellevue app. City staff described a multi‑department response. Siegel said the city and operators are conducting multiple visits each week to areas where encampments had appeared, that outreach teams are coordinating with Porchlight staff to offer services and safer locations, and that the shelter has been cleaning the adopted street and doing daily on‑site trash removal. She added that Plymouth Crossing provides 24/7 staffing, secured building entry and on‑site case management; "well over half of the units are rented to people that have local connections to Bellevue and the Eastside," she said. City manager Diane Carlson told council the city is increasing monitoring and will publish an FAQ on the city website about permanent supportive housing and the campus operators. She and Siegel confirmed an additional status update will be provided to council in one month; councilmember Sam Hamilton asked that the item come back as a study session presentation. Public commenters asked for stronger enforcement and neighborhood protections. Susanna Chung, who has served on a community advisory group, urged the city to "create a new police sector to cover only Eastgate," assign a 24/7 officer or security guard and increase patrols, and to ban sleeping on public space in addition to existing camping ordinances. City staff did not commit to those exact measures in the meeting; Siegel and other staff said they are increasing outreach visits, coordinating with the shelter and evaluating additional staffing for the Eastgate substation. The city emphasized that Porchlight and Plymouth provide services that staff say have measurable outcomes: Siegel told council that last year the Porchlight men's shelter "helped over 800 men find a safe place to sleep, plus connections to jobs and housing and services," and that Plymouth Crossing now provides apartments and supportive services for more than 90 formerly homeless people. Siegel also asked neighbors to report unhoused people in need via the My Bellevue app so outreach teams can prioritize responses; staff said response typically occurs within 24–48 hours on weekdays. Council action and next steps: Council asked for a follow‑up update in one month and directed staff to return with either a written report or a study session presentation. No ordinance or regulatory change was adopted at the Sept. 16 meeting.