Pathways Home
Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham’s plan to support our neighbors harmed by the national homelessness crisis.
The Many Possible Pathways into Homelessness
By working together, our community is forging just as many pathways home.
Homelessness is a national crisis and a symptom of multiple systemic failures. It doesn’t flow from a single source. There are numerous pathways that can lead a person or family into homelessness.
The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are investing
An average combined $15 million annually is to serve those among us in critical need of housing support, including those who:
• Are experiencing housing instability and on the verge of losing their permanent housing
• Have lost their permanent housing and are either dependent upon their personal safety net to keep them sheltered or lack a personal safety net and are sleeping outside
• Require a housing option aligned with their means in order to remain stably housed and supported
We invest in multiple, proven support pathways:
*Assumes 7 years of prop tax levy + sales tax levy allocations specifically targeted to housing production
**These numbers do not include significant State or Federal funding which is provided outside of City/County government funding