Thank you to the 630 supporters who have rallied behind this petition to demand humane shelter for our unhoused neighbors. Your voices are making a difference, but the county continues to let us down with poor planning, bureaucratic mismanagement, and excuses that leave people suffering in freezing conditions.
Last night, wind chills dipped below freezing again. Today, wind chill has been at or below freezing for almost the entire day. The Severe Weather Shelter remained closed, leaving hundreds of unsheltered individuals in dangerous, life-threatening conditions.
The County’s Failed RFP Process
The county’s own process for finding a shelter operator highlights its failure to take this crisis seriously:
• Inadequate Timeline: The county issued an RFP (Request for Proposals #24-82) for a Severe Weather Shelter Operator on September 25, 2024 and gave potential operators only 10 business days to respond.
• Extensive Requirements: The RFP was a 15-page document filled with complex requirements, making it nearly impossible for organizations to meet the deadline.
• Too Little, Too Late: The county waited until late September—mere weeks before winter shelter operations were needed—to release the RFP, despite knowing early in 2024 that a new operator would be required.
Predictably, no organizations submitted proposals. The county has used this as an excuse to justify its limited and inadequate shelter operations.
What the County Has Admitted
The county’s own statements reveal the systemic flaws in its approach:
• “It’s a dollars and cents exercise.”
• Erika Lautenbach, Director of Health and Community Services, admitted the county prioritizes cost over lives.
• “We want to prevent people from dying on the streets in the harshest conditions.”
• Yet, even as wind chills drop below freezing, the shelter remains closed.
• “We will consider wind chill and precipitation.”
• But the shelter has consistently failed to open during these dangerous conditions.
• Operational Costs: The county spends $8,000-$10,000 per night to operate 70 beds, while over 1,000 people remain unsheltered. Fixed costs of $150,000 have already been spent on a facility that sits mostly unused.
Lives Are at Risk
As of mid-December, 82 unhoused people have died in Whatcom County this year. These deaths are preventable. How many more lives will it take for our leaders to act?
What Needs to Change
1. Raise the Threshold to 40°F
• Protect lives by raising the activation threshold to 40°F, including wind chill.
2. Operate Continuously Throughout Winter
• Intermittent operations create chaos. A consistent shelter model is essential to save lives.
3. Adopt Cost-Effective Solutions
• Proven models like Road2Home operated a winter shelter for 90 nights at less than half the county’s cost.
4. End the Excuses
• The county’s rushed and inadequate RFP process is no excuse for failing to provide shelter. We demand accountability and immediate action.
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 those left to suffer. Even if you can’t stay all night, your presence will make an impact.
https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
2. Share the Petition
Share this petition on social media and with your friends and family. Every signature amplifies our voice.
https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
3. Contact Local Leaders
Urge them to act now and raise the threshold for shelter activation.
• 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
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared, and spoken out. Your compassion is saving lives. Keep sharing, keep contacting leaders, and keep fighting for change.
Let’s ensure no one is left out in the cold. Sign the petition and join us in demanding action now.
Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
With Gratitude,
Tukayote Helianthus