New Whatcom County housing unit will serve family exiting homelessness
A Bellingham housing services nonprofit is opening its first apartment for a family exiting homelessness.
Lydia Place announced May 26 the completion of a five-bedroom apartment that will serve as the first and only permanent supportive housing unit of its size in Whatcom County, according to the nonprofit.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is permanent housing at which housing assistance such as long-term leasing or rental assistance is offered alongside supportive services to assist households in achieving housing stability.
The unit is expected to be ready to be leased by June 1.
“We have seen an increasing need for housing solutions for larger, often multigenerational, families experiencing homelessness with complex needs” Lydia Place Executive Director Ashley Thomasson said in the announcement. “This unit will fill a significant gap in our community and provide a truly transformational space for a family as they build stability for their future.”
Approximately 1,160 Whatcom County students — about one in 24 pre-K to grade 12 public school students — met the federal definition of homeless in the 2024-2025 school year, according to data compiled by Whatcom County Health and Community Services.
The Bellingham Public Schools district saw a 19% increase in the number of homeless students in the 2024-2025 school year from the previous year.
More than 1,000 households applied for housing through the county’s Coordinated Entry System in 2024. One hundred-ninety of those households were families with children. Only about 20% of the need was being met with the available supply of housing services, according to county data.
Lydia Place served 383 households in 2025, including over 650 children. The newest apartment unit will be part of Lydia Place’s Campus Housing Program, which is a branch of its Family Housing Program consisting of 20 units across four properties.
“I have seen the Campus program provide housing opportunities for families who truly felt like they had no options left,” Lydia Place Mental Health Clinician Sadie Townsby said in the announcement. “This program matters because it serves some of the most vulnerable families in our community, providing them with an opportunity to gain rental history, housing skills, and a space to heal and recover from the trauma they have experienced with a support team at their side.”
Sixty-six percent of Lydia Place’s support comes from local government funding, with 26% of their nearly $6 million budget coming from community donations and private foundation grants.
To learn more about Lydia Place’s mission, visit www.lydiaplace.org or email info@lydiaplace.org.
