‘We remain committed’: County doubling up on temporary staff for winter shelter
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Whatcom County will double shelter staff for winter 2025-2026 operations.
- Three paid positions include training in crisis response and safety skills.
- Shelter to reduce beds to 60 and improve food, transit and guest services.
Whatcom County plans to hire nearly twice as many temporary staff members as last winter to help operate its severe weather shelter for the 2025-2026 winter season.
The county announced Tuesday it opened up hiring for three types of seasonal positions, including two with guaranteed hours.
- Temporary Severe Weather Shelter Program Supervisor
- This is a full-time shelter management position.
- Pay is $34.27 per hour at 40 hours per week.
- Temporary On-Call Severe Weather Shelter Lead Attendant
- This person will act as the on-site authority during shelter operations and help shelter attendants provide services to guests.
- Pay is $27.92 per hour, part-time at 20 hours per week outside shelter operating periods. It is full-time when the shelter is open.
- Temporary On-Call Severe Weather Shelter Attendant
- This role provides front-line services to guests of the severe weather shelter when it is open.
- Pay is $24.74 per hour, part-time. Shifts are expected to be up to nine hours, including a 30-minute meal break. Operations are weather-dependent and are expected to take place over 20 to 35 nights during the winter of 2025-2026.
The county is also working with the Whatcom Volunteer Center to recruit shelter volunteers. More information about volunteer opportunities will be announced as they become available.
Last winter the shelter had 2,287 overnight guests over 27 nights, according to data the Health Department reported. It was filled to capacity for 24 nights and held 104 people on its busiest night, including people in cots and those who warmed themselves in the lobby.
The shelter opened if the forecasted low was 32 degrees or colder for four hours or more, with consideration for wind chill and the possibility of rain or snow. Staffing included 20 people hired for the season, 24 full-time Health Department employees who worked overtime and 45 volunteers.
The county relied on its own employees and volunteers to staff the shelter over the last two winter seasons, leading to issues of staff being stretched too thin.
“We have had folks up all night and then coming in to do their day jobs,” said Deputy Executive Kayla Schott-Bressler at a July Health Board meeting.
Now that the county is hiring and training additional staff for temporary full-time work, it will likely be more expensive to operate, according to previous reporting by The Bellingham Herald. Whatcom County has about $550,000 from a state Department of Commerce grant to spend on shelter operations.
In addition to hiring more staff, the Health Department plans to:
- Improve morning transportation by using a department van to better coordinate overnight guests leaving the shelter and accessing daytime services. Last winter, neighbors complained about guests lingering near the shelter after overnight operations ended.
- Increase and improve its food donation program.
- Reduce the number of beds from 80 to 60 “to increase safety and sustainability and allow the shelter layout to include more space for on-site services.”
A location for this season’s shelter has still not been announced. That announcement is expected to come this month.
All three positions available include paid training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, situational awareness, CPR, substance use, mental health symptoms and available local resources. The training is a combination of online and in-person training, the job posting states. All positions require overnight shifts and the ability to travel to the downtown Bellingham shelter location during severe weather, such as ice and snow. Applicants must also be able to pass a criminal background check.
