A court summons taped to her apartment door nearly cost Raisa and her two children their home.

The Bellevue warehouse worker and mother of Sophia, 9, and Simon, 6, fell two months behind on rent after a medical emergency put her in the hospital for two weeks earlier this year.

Her landlord filed for eviction. A court date was set.

Then a Family Support Specialist at Sophia's elementary school told Raisa about Bellevue LifeSpring's Emergency Rent Assistance Program.

Within days of her call, a Family Support Administrator reviewed her situation and the nonprofit covered her past-due balance, halting the eviction before she ever stood before a judge.

The stakes were especially high for Simon, who has a developmental disability requiring ongoing therapy and specialized medical care that insurance doesn't fully cover. Co-pays, therapy sessions, and a hospital stay earlier in 2026 had already stretched the family's budget to its limit. Losing the apartment would have meant losing his care team and the routines central to his progress.

Sophia kept her spot in the school choir.

Raisa's story, published Wednesday, July 29, by Bellevue LifeSpring, puts a face on a growing need.

In June 2026 alone, the nonprofit provided emergency rent support to 46 families with 85 children among them, according to the organization. Its waitlist is growing, with more families arriving with court summons in hand.

"Thanks to the program, I found a job and learned how to write a resume tailored to different vacancies, which was extremely helpful and gave me more confidence during my job search," one anonymous participant in the Family Support Program said on the organization's website.

Raisa is now enrolled in that same program, working one-on-one with a specialist on financial habits, job advancement, and long-term stability. The Family Support Program, led by Programs Manager Lucy Garcia, offers guidance in career building, housing stability, financial education, and tenant rights.

To qualify, families must have at least one child under 18, live within Bellevue School District boundaries, earn at or below 60% of Area Median Income, and be available for regular weekly meetings between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Bellevue LifeSpring's two Family Hubs are at Sherwood Forest Elementary (16411 NE 24th St.) and Highland Middle School (15027 Bel-Red Rd.).

The Sherwood Forest hub is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July, expanding to Monday through Thursday in August. The Highland hub is closed for the summer.

Families needing emergency rent help can apply online at bellevuelifespring.org or call 425-451-1175, ext. 102.