Too little, too expensive

I moved to Bellevue in 2016. At the time, I was a student at Bellevue College, where I also had a part time job. On my very small salary, the only housing I could afford in the area was the option of renting out the living room of a 2 bedroom apartment shared with two other people in West Bellevue. And I felt lucky that I was able to find even that, after months of searching and reaching out to housing ads.

I was paying out of pocket for college at that time and did not yet receive financial aid, so I had no outside help to cover my expenses, not even from family. The cost of rent increased steadily year by year. In 2020, I took a job working with Bellevue's Parks department. I still could not afford to even rent a studio apartment on my salary alone. I was unhoused for a brief amount of time when my roommates moved out and I couldn't afford the place on my own.

This reality drove me to seek work and housing in Seattle late 2021, where at least more programs exist to help people in need. With my own ears I have heard Bellevue citizens brag about the fact that you don't see as many homeless folks in Bellevue, as if the lack of support the city has to offer is something to be proud of. It makes me sick.