Mayor Kelli Linville has directed City staff and the Bellingham Police Department to open a City-run emergency shelter at the Maritime Heritage Park pavilion tonight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The pavilion is located in the park at 500 W. Holly Street. The shelter will have 20-25 spaces and is for men only.
The Mayor has been working today with the City of Bellingham Office of Emergency Management to open additional emergency shelter capacity during this severe winter storm.
“My staff and I are in the office today working through details of opening an additional emergency shelter space tonight,” Mayor Linville said. “We are working with Police, Emergency Management, and Community Development to find the necessary staff to make sure this additional shelter option is available for the public. This is a temporary emergency shelter pending further planning with our partners.”
The Mayor signed a proclamation yesterday that an emergency exists throughout the City of Bellingham for the winter storms that began on February 8. This authorizes the City to provide appropriate emergency assistance to the victims of this current winter storm and take other actions to protect life and property as appropriate.
The Bellingham Police Department and Bellingham Fire Department also continue to transport unsheltered people to local shelters or PeaceHealth Hospital, as needed.
Lighthouse Mission shelter update
Lighthouse Missions Ministries (LMM) reports they had 196 guests last night between the Fountain Community Church and LMM facilities and will continue to operate with expanded capacity this evening. The City continues to have a room in the central library available during the day for women staying in the night shelter at Fountain Community Church.
LMM shelter guests at all LMM and Fountain Community Church facilities can check in through the LMM Drop-In Center. The center is open 24 hours per day and is located at 1013 W. Holly Street. Anyone seeking services at the shelter is welcome. The only exception is if the person has a history of violence at the Lighthouse Mission. For more information on Lighthouse Mission, visit www.thelighthousemission.org/.
HomesNOW! also has access to additional shelter beds. For more information, contact HomesNOW at homesnow.org.
Northwest Youth Services provides a day center for youth, with the support from First Congregational Church of Bellingham. For more information, visit www.nwys.org/emergency-housing.
For more information
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To read the Mayor’s emergency proclamation, click here.
To receive emergency alerts through the City and County’s AlertSense program, sign up here.
