As La Niña winter nears, Whatcom County readies its severe weather shelter
As another La Niña winter approaches with its promise of snow and freezing weather in the lowlands, Whatcom County officials are putting the finishing touches on a severe weather shelter for people living on the streets.
Saturday was the first day that shelter operations can start — when the forecast calls for temperatures of 32 degrees and below for four hours or more. The Whatcom County Department of Health and Community Services has hired staff and recruited volunteers to run a shelter where 60 people can get out of the cold, get a hot meal and use toilet facilities. And sleep.
“We want to make sure that people feel safe and comfortable,” said Connor McAdams, one of 34 people the Health Department has hired to run the shelter, along with another 77 volunteers who have been trained and made themselves available for winter duty.
The shelter and its 60 beds are only for the coldest nights, in addition to regular shelter space available at other locations and run by other agencies. Funding of $550,000 for the season comes from Whatcom County through a state Department of Commerce grant. The city of Bellingham will kick in funds if that money runs out. It all depends on how many nights the severe weather shelter operates.
“We sometimes don’t know whether it’s going to drop below 32 or not and for how long. (A cold snap) can stretch from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. It’s pretty grim,” said Lee Mosley, who’s managing the staff on site.
A recent tour of the shelter, in the basement of a former church at 925 N. Forest St., staff members showed neighbors and other visitors how the operation will work this year.
In a presentation during the tour, Community Health and Human Services Manager Ann Beck said the county’s severe weather shelter has evolved over the past two decades as the homeless population has grown.
“We at Health and Community Services are being tasked with keeping people alive during severe weather and that is what we are dedicated to doing. We want to bring people in from the cold and keep them safe and warm for the night,” Beck said.
La Niña conditions often mean a colder and wetter winter for the Northwest, with a greater chance for lowland snow and a long stint of biting cold temperatures. Such weather stretches the resources of normal Whatcom County agencies who help people find housing and services so they aren’t forced to live outside.
With the county-run shelter limited to 60 people a night, Lighthouse Mission Ministries will be taking up some of the slack in its new building at F and Holly streets, said Brittany Hargrove, chief program officer.
“We have already opened up 30 additional beds within our facility and were prepared to increase those beds as needed. We work really closely with the county’s severe weather shelter. (We’re) feeling really good about our partnership with the county this year and about the amount of beds for severe weather,” Hargrove told The Herald in a voicemail.
In addition, shelter guests will be able to get clean and dry clothing from donation boxes at the center Health Department spokeswoman Marie Junek told The Herald. Donations are being accepted online at shelterstatus.com.
This story was originally published November 17, 2025 at 5:20 AM.
