Thank you to everyone who continues to support this petition and stand up for our unhoused neighbors. In a recent packed meeting room filled with outreach organizations, media, neighbors, government officials, and businesses affected by the Bakerview Rd “Jack in the Box” encampment, a critical suggestion emerged:
The county has stated the Severe Weather Shelter can operate for up to 55 days with the current budget. With the encampment clearing and cleaning planned for the week of January 20, 2025, we are urging the county to open the shelter for two full weeks starting January 15, 2025.
Why This Makes Sense
1. Avoid Permitting Delays:
Operating the shelter for two weeks surrounding the encampment clearing eliminates the need for additional permitting processes, which the county has noted are required for continuous operations beyond 14 days.
2. Provide Immediate Shelter:
For those displaced by the encampment clearing, opening the shelter during this critical time would provide immediate access to warmth, safety, and vital resources.
3. Still Leave Days for Later Operations:
• The shelter has already operated for 2 days, and opening for 14 more days in January would leave 39 operational days in February and March with the current budget.
• While this reduces flexibility later in the season, it ensures people are not left without options during the immediate crisis.
Lives Are at Stake
The 2024 Point-in-Time Count for Whatcom County revealed:
• Over 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness.
• The Severe Weather Shelter and Lighthouse Mission combined cannot provide enough beds, leaving hundreds of people unsheltered in freezing conditions.
• 82 unhoused individuals have already died in Whatcom County this year.
With freezing wind chills occurring regularly, every night without shelter puts lives at risk.
Call to Action for the City
We are urging city leaders and permitting officials to:
1. Waive Permitting Requirements:
If the shelter needs to operate for longer than 14 days continuously, the city should waive or expedite any permitting requirements to ensure seamless operations.
2. Support a Homeless Emergency Declaration:
The county executives should declare a homeless emergency, unlocking state and federal resources that could significantly expand shelter capacity and services.
How You Can Help
1. Contact Your Leaders:
Urge the county and city officials to take immediate action to address the Bakerview Rd encampment clearing:
• 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
2. Share the Petition:
Amplify our message and call for action by sharing this petition with your networks:
https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
3. Sign Up for the Protest:
Join the “Night Out in the Cold” protest to bring awareness to the dire need for shelter. Even if you can’t stay the whole night, your presence matters:
https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
Whatcom County, The Time to Act is Now
We are calling on Whatcom County leaders to show compassion and leadership by:
1. Opening the shelter for two full weeks starting January 15, 2025.
2. Waiving any permitting requirements for continuous operations beyond two weeks.
3. Declaring a homeless emergency to unlock state and federal resources.
These actions are not just solutions—they are lifelines for those who have nowhere else to turn. As winter intensifies and wind chills drop, we cannot afford to wait any longer.
Let’s hold our leaders accountable and ensure no one is left out in the cold.
Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061
Together, we can demand action and bring about real change.
With Gratitude,
Tukayote Helianthus