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

Possible pathways include: unaffordable medical bills, poverty, skyrocketing housing costs, growing economic inequality, underfunded child care and elder care, underfunded mental health services, inadequate substance use treatment, not enough assistance for returning vets, domestic violence, and incarceration and criminal history.
Possible pathways include: unaffordable medical bills, poverty, skyrocketing housing costs, growing economic inequality, underfunded child care and elder care, underfunded mental health services, inadequate substance use treatment, not enough assistance for returning vets, domestic violence, and incarceration and criminal history.

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:

Prevention: Our homelessness prevention strategy keeps individuals and families from becoming homeless. Financial Assistance: In an average year, over 340 households in crisis receiving financial assistance. More than 10 homes received assistance for health and safety repairs. Coaching and Support: 1,200 households receiving case management services. Landlord-tenant mediation and services and housing search and assistance for over 1,030 households.*
Prevention: Our homelessness prevention strategy keeps individuals and families from becoming homeless. Financial Assistance: In an average year, over 340 households in crisis receiving financial assistance. More than 10 homes received assistance for health and safety repairs. Coaching and Support: 1,200 households receiving case management services. Landlord-tenant mediation and services and housing search and assistance for over 1,030 households.*
Crisis Response: Our homelessness crisis response strategy provides families and children who have lost their housing with a safe place to sleep. Outreach: 250 Visits with unsheltered individuals each month to build relationships and connect with services. Shelter: More than 330 Temporary motel stays for families with children and other vulnerable households per year. 75 beds at tiny house villages. Over 1,200 individuals served at drop-in shelters, such as Base Camp and emergency winter shelters per year. More than 160 individuals sheltered per night, on average. Specialty shelters for over 140 individuals transitioning from foster care, healthcare, mental health facilities or prison. Shelter for over 75 families fleeing domestic violence in an average year.
Crisis Response: Our homelessness crisis response strategy provides families and children who have lost their housing with a safe place to sleep. Outreach: 250 Visits with unsheltered individuals each month to build relationships and connect with services. Shelter: More than 330 Temporary motel stays for families with children and other vulnerable households per year. 75 beds at tiny house villages. Over 1,200 individuals served at drop-in shelters, such as Base Camp and emergency winter shelters per year. More than 160 individuals sheltered per night, on average. Specialty shelters for over 140 individuals transitioning from foster care, healthcare, mental health facilities or prison. Shelter for over 75 families fleeing domestic violence in an average year
Stability: Our homelessness stability strategy provides individuals and families with a pathway to long-term stability. Stable, affordable housing: Over 300 affordable housing units added in new construction in the past five years. 20 million dollars more to support future affordable housing development in an average year *. 610 households receiving rental assistance **. Homebuyer assistance for up to 7 low-income households. Over 450 individuals receiving permanent supportive housing. Critical Services: 9,970 Students and families receiving substance abuse and mental health prevention services. 1,030 Veterans receiving VA claims support. 2,000 individuals receiving direct behavioral health support. 180 individuals receiving substance use treatment per year to divert from the criminal justice system. Over 140 individuals receiving intensive case management. More than individuals receiving behavioral health crisis stabilization. Monthly services for 330 developmentally disabled adults and 270 developmentally disabled children.
Stability: Our homelessness stability strategy provides individuals and families with a pathway to long-term stability. Stable, affordable housing: Over 300 affordable housing units added in new construction in the past five years. 20 million dollars more to support future affordable housing development in an average year *. 610 households receiving rental assistance **. Homebuyer assistance for up to 7 low-income households. Over 450 individuals receiving permanent supportive housing. Critical Services: 9,970 Students and families receiving substance abuse and mental health prevention services. 1,030 Veterans receiving VA claims support. 2,000 individuals receiving direct behavioral health support. 180 individuals receiving substance use treatment per year to divert from the criminal justice system. Over 140 individuals receiving intensive case management. More than individuals receiving behavioral health crisis stabilization. Monthly services for 330 developmentally disabled adults and 270 developmentally disabled children.

*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