Affordable Housing Solutions

The challenges in the housing world are many, including: ending homelessness, increasing the supply of affordable rental housing, and creating a range of new for-sale housing types that provide an entry to home ownership. These are nationwide issues, but are even more acute in coastal areas surrounded by plentiful natural and cultural amenities. Compounding these problems locally, expanding student enrollment and a growing population have resulted in some of the lowest rental vacancy rates in the State.

Funding and Incentives for New Housing

Housing Equity Assessment

In 2018, the City Council tasked its Planning and Community Development Committee with creating specifications for a Housing Equity Assessment that will document the distribution of housing, services, parks, and economic opportunity within the City of Bellingham.

Protections for Manufactured Home Parks

The City Council has acted to enhance protections of manufactured home parks to help preserve this important form of affordable housing.

Planning Committee Work Sessions on Residential Rental Barriers/Concerns

Many Bellingham community members reside in rental housing. The Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit source of income discrimination in rental housing and to expand notification of rental increases under certain circumstances. The following links include meeting videos and materials (click on specific agenda item to see video display).

Planning Committee Work Sessions on Affordable Housing

The Planning Committee is examining proposals to improve the supply of affordable housing in Bellingham and to protect residents from being displaced from their homes. Meeting links and materials are posted below.

Homelessness

Other Housing Resources

Contact

Mark Gardner, City Council Legislative Analyst, mgardner@cob.org