Whatcom County shelters house hundreds as winter snow, freezing temperatures hit region
Various facilities and organizations across Bellingham and Whatcom County are working to shelter hundreds of unhoused community members during an early February cold spell that has brought snow and freezing temperatures.
Both the Bellingham and Ferndale severe weather shelters have been consistently full on their open nights, according to Whatcom County Health and Community Services Communications Specialist Marie Duckworth.
“Right now, the Bellingham shelter is scheduled to be open through Thursday night and will likely continue operating into the coming weekend,” Duckworth told The Bellingham Herald. “We are monitoring the weather forecasts and checking with staff about extending operations if overnight temperatures are expected to be 32 degrees or below.”
The county does not currently operate the shelter during daytime hours due to staffing and location challenges. During the day, the shelter is cleaned and prepared for overnight sheltering, which includes laundry, supply deliveries and cleaning of high-contact areas, the kitchen and bathrooms, according to Duckworth.
“We are committed to operating a safe overnight shelter, and we hate that there are not more options for people to stay warm during freezing daytime hours,” said Ann Beck, Community Health and Human Services Manager at Whatcom County Health and Community Services in a statement to The Herald. “Health and Community Services can’t do this work alone, and ultimately we would like to partner with another government entity or a local nonprofit that can provide daytime warming support for our unhoused neighbors during severe winter weather.”
Lighthouse Mission Ministries has also been providing food and shelter to unhoused individuals at its new facility during the winter storm.
The building currently offers 234 beds under regular weather conditions and expects to reach its permitted total of 300 beds upon hiring enough staff to operate the facility’s behavioral health dorms.
Lighthouse Mission also offers 60 more emergency overnight shelter beds on a walk-in basis. Not all of the beds were full Sunday night, according to Lighthouse Mission Ministries president and CEO Hans Erchinger-Davis. An extra 15 to 20 severe weather beds are offered each night, depending on staffing.
Guests can stay on-site during the day while the cold snap continues, Erchinger-Davis told The Herald.
“Due to safe staffing limitations, we are unable to bring in those just seeking day shelter into our building as we prioritize community members who require a full range of shelter services. We are always willing to take people on a case-by-case basis for any and all services if they are especially vulnerable, such as children, elderly or disabled people,” Erchinger-Davis said in a statement.
Many unhoused community members are also seeking daytime shelter at the Bellingham Public Library, which invites all community members inside during its open hours. The library was open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. Daytime temperatures in Bellingham reached a high of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
