Thank you to the 618 supporters who have joined this fight to demand dignity, compassion, and safety for our unhoused neighbors. Your voices have made it clear: leaving people to suffer in freezing conditions is not acceptable.
Despite weeks of silence, the county has now revealed key details about the Severe Weather Shelter (SWS) program. Their own words expose a deeply flawed system that prioritizes dollars over lives, leaving over 1,000 individuals unsheltered on any given night.
What the County Has Admitted
1. “It’s a Dollars and Cents Exercise”
• Erika Lautenbach, Director of Whatcom County Health and Community Services, admitted:
“I hate to say it, but it is a dollars and cents exercise. It’s really hard for us to see people sleeping on the streets and suffering.”
• While the county acknowledges the heartbreak of seeing people in these conditions, their actions prioritize budgets over lives.
2. Threshold Remains Dangerously Low
• This year, the activation threshold was raised from 28°F to 32°F—a small improvement, but still far too low.
• Hypothermia can occur at temperatures below 40°F, especially with rain and wind. By keeping the threshold at 32°F, the county is knowingly leaving people to endure dangerous conditions.
3. Intermittent Operations Create Chaos
• The shelter operates only on select nights based on weather forecasts, leaving unhoused individuals to gamble on whether they’ll have a safe place to sleep.
• The county admitted:
“Despite our best efforts, the unpredictable nature of weather… may result in activation on nights that no longer meet the temperature threshold.”
4. High Costs and Inefficiency
• The county has budgeted $655,000 for up to 55 nights, at a cost of over $11,900 per night for just 70 beds.
• Lautenbach claimed raising the threshold to 40°F would triple costs, cutting into other services. Yet, there are no public timelines or plans for long-term solutions like tiny homes or recovery housing.
5. Over 1,000 Still Unsheltered
• Even if the shelter operated every night, it would only serve 70 people, leaving over 1,000 individuals without protection from severe weather.
Their Words, Our Reality
Lautenbach stated:
“To make sure that in the harshest conditions people aren’t dying on the streets.”
But people are dying. The county’s decisions are forcing vulnerable residents to endure freezing temperatures, rain, and wind with no shelter in sight. On top of this, their admissions reveal an unwillingness to make necessary changes:
• Raising the threshold to 40°F would save lives, but the county refuses, citing “budget constraints.”
• Their failure to secure a nonprofit partner has left them scrambling to operate a flawed and expensive system.
• Communications remain inadequate, with many unhoused individuals unaware of shelter openings.
The Human Cost of Inaction
This winter, our neighbors are sleeping in doorways, under tarps, and on freezing concrete. Last week, I walked through downtown Bellingham and saw dozens of makeshift shelters. One man had nothing but a thin blanket for protection. This is what happens when we reduce human lives to “dollars and cents.”
While the county says they want “everyone to have shelter every night,” their actions tell a different story. The Severe Weather Shelter is failing to meet even the most basic needs of our unhoused community.
What Needs to Change
1. Raise the Threshold to 40°F
• The county’s own admissions confirm that lives are being left to chance. Hypothermia doesn’t wait for 32°F, and neither should shelter operations.
2. Operate Continuously Throughout Winter
• Intermittent openings create chaos for clients and staff alike. A consistent winter shelter model would save lives and provide stability.
3. Adopt Cost-Effective Solutions
• The current model is inefficient and costly. The Road2Home model, which operated a continuous shelter for 90 nights at half the county’s cost per night, proves there are better options.
4. Demand Accountability
• The county’s refusal to act is a betrayal of their stated “moral imperative.” It’s time for leadership to prioritize human lives over financial calculations.
How You Can Help
1. Sign Up for the Protest
Join the “Night Out in the Cold” protest to demand action and stand in solidarity with our unhoused neighbors. Even if you can’t stay all night, your participation will amplify our message.
https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
2. Share the Petition
Every signature strengthens our case. Share it with friends, family, and on social media to help us reach more people.
https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
3. Contact Local Leaders
Demand they raise the shelter threshold and operate consistently. Their silence is unacceptable.
• Satpal Sidhu (County Executive): ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us
• Whatcom County Council: council@co.whatcom.wa.us
• Mayor Kim Lund: mayorsoffice@cob.org
• Severe Weather Shelter Team: wintershelter@whatcomcounty.us
Suggested Email Template:
“Dear [Recipient],
Over 618 residents have signed a petition calling for the Severe Weather Shelter threshold to be raised to 40°F, including wind chill, and for consistent operations. The county’s admissions confirm an inefficient and costly model that prioritizes budgets over lives.
Please act immediately to raise the threshold and adopt a humane, predictable shelter model. Preventing hypothermia deaths is not just a financial calculation—it’s a moral imperative.
Thank you for addressing this urgent issue.”
Let’s Keep the Pressure On
Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition, shared it, and signed up for the protest. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and demand the compassion and action our community deserves.
Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
The time for action is now. Let’s make sure no one is left out in the cold.
With Gratitude,
Tukayote Helianthus