Swift Haven and Unity Village Tiny House Village Relocation Project

(updated 04/09/2024)

Project Background 

Swift Haven and Unity Village, two tiny home villages run by HomesNOW! must move from their current locations on City-owned property. We are working with HomesNOW! to relocate these villages.

The City is purchasing a property in the Birchwood Neighborhood near the intersection of Northwest and West Maplewood avenues to support future long-term affordable housing. In the short term, we intend to work with HomesNOW! to move Swift Haven and Unity Village tiny home villages to this site. The new village will be called North Haven. If the required permit for the village is approved, we expect to complete the move in fall 2024. 

About the Current Swift Haven Location 

HomesNOW! operates the Swift Haven tiny home village currently located in the City-owned parking lot located within the Civic Athletic Complex at the Frank Geri Sport Fields. The current location is not viable in the long-term because it does not comply with the terms of use specified under grant funding the City received for development of the park. The City was granted a temporary extension to use the Geri Fields parking lot for a tiny home village while we pursue another suitable site. This extension expires in December 2024.   

About the Current Unity Village Location 

HomesNOW! also operates Unity Village, a tiny home village on City-owned property adjacent to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Facility. Unity Village also needs be relocated in the near future to allow for a soil clean-up that’s needed ahead of planned expansions at Post Point. To comply with permitting deadlines, Unity Village must relocate by March 2025. 

 Project Timeline and Public Comment Period 

  • City Council approved purchase of the property on Northwest Avenue on April 8, 2024. 
  • After the property purchase is complete, HomesNOW! can submit a permit application for the tiny home village. 
  • To operate at the new location, HomesNOW! will apply for a Temporary Shelter Permit and SEPA approval. As part of that process, the City will issue a public notice, and HomesNOW! will hold an informal neighborhood meeting during a two-week public comment period. This will take place sometime late spring 2024.  
  • If the permit is approved, the City will work with  HomesNOW! on the final site layout and design. We will also complete some site improvements and construction needed to prepare the site for the tiny home village. This is the longest step in the process and will take place throughout the summer of 2024. 
  • We expect the property will be ready for move-in in Fall 2024. However, this timeline is dependent on several factors, including electricity setup, material availability, and contractor availability. 
  • If the permit is approved, the village can remain in this location for up to five years under current City code. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Unity Village  

Unity Village is currently located on City-owned property adjacent to the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Facility. Unity Village must be relocated in the near future to allow for soil clean-up needed ahead of planned expansions at Post Point. To comply with permitting deadlines, Unity Village must relocate by March 2025. 

Swift Haven 

Swift Haven is currently located in the City-owned parking lot located within the Civic Athletic Complex at the Frank Geri Sport Fields. The current location is not viable in the long-term because it does not comply with the terms of use specified under grant funding the City received from the State for development of the park. The City was granted a temporary extension to use the Geri Fields parking lot for a tiny home village while we pursue another suitable site. This extension expires in December 2024.   

We are actively planning for future affordable housing and are acquiring property at 3300 Northwest Avenue (behind the North Coast Credit Union branch) for future affordable housing development. In the short term, the property will be used to support the relocation of Swift Haven and Unity villages. This new tiny home village will be called North Haven.  

We want to prevent the villages from closing and considered all available City property for the tiny home village relocation. However, no existing City property was suitable.   

Reasons the new location is suitable for the village and future affordable housing include: 

  • It was on the market. 
  • It’s along a transit corridor. 
  • It’s proximity to goods and services. 
  • It’s flat and paved, making it easier to build on. 
  • It’s set back from the main road. 

What are the reasons the City chose not to relocate Unity Village and Swift Haven to the Meridian Street property? 

When the City pursued the Parks Department’s property on Meridian Street for a potential tiny home village location, a preliminary study indicated there was a suitable site for the village outside of wetlands and buffers. However, when we conducted a more in-depth report, we confirmed the wetlands and buffers were much larger than originally thought. The costs associated with impacts to the extensive wetlands, as well as the cost to develop street frontage and utility connections along Meridian Street made siting tiny home villages at this location no longer financially viable. 

Current city code doesn’t allow tiny home villages in one place permanently. Our code currently allows permitted tiny home villages to operate in the same location for two years, followed by up to three one-year extensions.  

Any guests still at Swift Haven or Unity Village when it’s time to move will be invited by HomesNOW! to relocate to the new village.   

Final design and permits will dictate how many homes will be accommodated in this location. We are hopeful that we can accommodate between 40 and 50 tiny homes and as many residents.  

The City is purchasing this property for future development of affordable housing using a combination of local housing funds. The purchase price is $1.2 million.  

Construction of the village and initial set up is estimated to cost $900,000, which includes installation of utilities and amenities such as electrical, plumbing, kitchens, laundry and storage, plus replacement of houses and common areas that can’t be reused from previous villages. 

The tiny home village with go through a permitting process, during which time the design and other details of the village will be evaluated. 

The City and HomesNOW! are currently working on a preliminary village layout. This work includes identifying infrastructure that can be salvaged from the existing villages, and ensuring basic accommodations for sleeping, eating, bathing, and sanitation can be configured on the new site.  

We estimate a draft village layout will be ready this spring/early summer and submitted with the permit applications (Temporary Shelter Permit and SEPA application).  

HomesNOW! can apply for a permit to operate the new tiny home village after the City has finalized its purchase of the property on Northwest Avenue. The permitting process will likely take place sometime in spring 2024. 

If a permit is approved, the next steps are to finalize the site design and complete the necessary construction to prepare the site. Construction is the longest step in the process and will occur through the summer, depending on the availability of materials and a contractor to complete the work.  

We expect the village to be ready for guests to move in by fall 2024. 

We will take input about the North Haven tiny home village during the permit process. Check back to find out when that is. 

HomesNOW! is a nonprofit organization located in Bellingham. The organization provides transitional housing to individuals experiencing homelessness. HomesNOW! supports a Housing First model, meaning the organization serves to provide temporary shelter to those experiencing homelessness, offering them a stable environment to find a path back to permanent housing. 

HomesNOW! began operating tiny home villages beginning in 2019. Their first village, Winter Haven, was behind City Hall. It opened in early 2019 and operated for 90 days. Their second village was a tented village called Safe Haven located in the Sunnyland neighborhood. This village ran from April through August 2019. 

The third of their tiny home villages, Unity Village, opened in September 2019 near the Post Point Resource Recovery Plant. Swift Haven, located on the Geri Fields parking lot at the Civic Athletic Complex, opened in 2020. The villages are entirely peer-operated, have a strict set of admissions criteria, and enforce a code of conduct for all residents. 

Contact HomesNOW! or visit their website to learn about opportunities to support their work. 

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