North King News

A former Bellevue mayor was appointed to the King County Regional Homelessness Authority Implementation Board.

The KCRHA approved the nomination of John Chelminiak at its July 16 meeting.

King County Vice Chair and KCRHA Governing Board Member Reagan Dunn touted Chelminiak’s passion for championing human services in the area as a reason for his appointment.

“There is an urgent need to address homelessness in King County in a meaningful way, and with his decades of experience and heart for public service, John will be an invaluable addition to the board,” Dunn said in a press release from King County.

Chelminiak’s 16-year tenure on the Bellevue City Council included working with human services organizations All Home King County, the county’s Mental Illness and Dependency Advisory Committee and the Committee to End Homelessness.

When the Great Recession was threatening financial cuts, Chelminiak fought to preserve human services, according to the press release. 

He laid out his goals for the implementation board after learning of his appointment.

“The goals must be getting people off the street, getting them the services they need, and doing it in ways that are culturally relevant to the individual,” Chelminiak said in the press release. “We can make homelessness rare, brief and one-time and I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Implementation Board.”