With temperatures on Friday night, Jan. 12, near their lowest in more than a decade, temporary nighttime winter shelters worked in tight coordination to expand capacity and transportation services, accommodating guests seeking refuge from the frigid weather. Daytime locations were expanded as well, to help make sure there are options for those who need a warm place to go.
Combined, on Friday night the Road2Home Winter Shelter program and the severe weather shelters, operated by Whatcom County and Ferndale Community Services, added 121 more beds to the 200-bed year-round capacity of Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ Basecamp. This is in addition to the 65 hotel rooms Whatcom County Health and Community Services uses to shelter families year-round.
The nightly Road2Home (R2H) Winter Shelter Program at Civic Field served 48 guests on Friday night (the shelter has a normal maximum capacity of 45). Fifteen additional people who sought a bed at the shelter were provided transportation and space at other shelter facilities for the night.
The Bellingham severe weather shelter (SWS), operated by Whatcom County Health and Community Services, which has a normal maximum capacity of 45, served 57 guests. According to SWS staff, many of these guests have stayed at the shelter continuously while the SWS operates 24-7 during extreme temperatures.
While both Bellingham temporary shelters each have a normal maximum capacity of 45 guests nightly, during the current weather event they have been approved by building officials and the Bellingham Fire Marshal to accommodate additional guests temporarily.
The severe weather shelter in Ferndale, operated by Ferndale Community Services, has also been open for both night and day sheltering and served 16 guests on Friday night. This shelter has a normal maximum capacity of 15.
From Wednesday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 12, the nightly census at Basecamp ranged from 207-214, according to Hans Erchinger-Davis, President and CEO of Lighthouse Mission Ministries. Like the temporary shelters, Basecamp accommodates more guests during severe weather.
“Staff at the severe weather shelter in Bellingham have been creatively pursuing every avenue to expand the number of spots as much as possible, while keeping everyone safe and ensuring the shelter remains accessible to guests with disabilities,” said Erika Lautenbach, director of Whatcom County Health and Community Services. “If there’s a way to safely fit in another bed or chair, we’ve made it happen.”
The City’s temporary daytime warming center at 1013 W. Holly Street hosted 38 people on Friday, Jan. 12, offering warm drinks and food, clothing, and other supplies. Both the City’s daytime warming center and the SWS have connected guests with medical care for minor cold-related and chronic injuries, and the WCHCS street medicine team has been on-site at both locations to meet with clients and offer their services. Guests were also connected with behavioral health services, including transportation to and spots at local detox facilities.
“The complex coordination and hard work of all who’ve come together to expand overnight shelter capacity and bring daytime warming options online is inspiring,” Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund said. “It has made a tangible difference during this severe weather snap. This kind of innovative problem-solving is the best of Bellingham in action. We’re looking now toward extending the daytime warming center through Monday, based on the weather forecast,” she added. UPDATE: City officials confirmed on Sunday, Jan. 14 that the City-hosted temporary warming center at 1013 W. Holly Street would be open through Monday, Jan. 15.
Numerous businesses and other organizations have provided trained staff and volunteers, donated food, or otherwise contributed to the shelters in the past days. Thanks go out to Bellingham Public Schools, Cheba Hut, Erin Baker’s, Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees Local 1937, Leaf and Ladle, Lighthouse Mission Ministries, Opportunity Council Homeless Outreach Team, North Sound Accountable Communities of Health, Northwest Youth Services, Pizza Time, Sanitary Services Corporation, Road2Home, RSU Security, Whatcom Transportation Authority, and Zeek’s Pizza.
Many community members have also donated food, clothing, and supplies. Shelters cannot accept donations of food that isn’t pre-packaged due to food safety regulations, and they ask that community members pre-arrange any donations rather than dropping them off at shelter locations.
For up-to-date information about shelter availability, visit whatcomcounty.us/wintershelter.
