Bellingham plans a daytime warming center for severe winter weather
With colder weather approaching, Bellingham is opening a daytime warming center to complement Whatcom County’s overnight severe weather shelter.
Bellingham’s daytime center will have its first opening Monday, to coincide with the county opening its shelter on the previous Saturday and Sunday nights, city of Bellingham spokeswoman Kelsey Thomas told The Herald.
“This is not in response to incoming weather, just an opportunity to ensure everything is working well before a severe weather incident,” Thomas said in an email Wednesday.
Bellingham recently committed to opening a warming center for this winter season from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the mornings after an overnight activation of the county’s severe weather shelter at 825 N. Forest St. in the Sehome neighborhood. The daytime center plans were announced Wednesday afternoon.
“Opening this daytime warming shelter reflects our deep commitment to protecting the health and dignity of every Bellingham resident,” Mayor Kim Lund said in a statement. “By working closely with our county and nonprofit partners, we’re expanding access to safe, warm spaces when people need them most.”
Normally, Whatcom County will be opening its severe weather shelter from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. on nights when temperatures of 32 degrees or colder are forecast for four hours or more. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s Saturday and Sunday nights and in the upper 40s during the day on Monday.
Whatcom County officials were unsure Wednesday whether their overnight shelter would be operating Monday night as well.
Bellingham’s daytime warming center will be able to accommodate 60 people at the former Lighthouse Mission Drop-in Center, 1013 W. Holly St. in Old Town.
At least one city representative will be on site while the daytime shelter is open, Thomas said. Supporting agencies include the Opportunity Council with its Homeless Outreach Team, Road2Home, Lighthouse Mission Ministries and a volunteer staffing pool from the Whatcom County Department of Health and Community Services.
Most shelter operating fund will come from existing budgets, Thomas said.
The Lighthouse Mission is providing the site free, staff hours will be paid through existing contracts with the Opportunity Council, and city staff oversight will come from their current salaries.
“We anticipate additional costs related to weekend staffing and supplies can be managed through existing budget allocations,” Thomas said.
This story was originally published November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM.
