This heartbreaking reality highlights a critical failure in our current shelter system: there simply isn’t enough capacity. Turning people away into freezing temperatures is not acceptable.
At 6:00 PM on Saturday, January 18th, the Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter reached full capacity, leaving over 1,000 people in Whatcom County with no safe place to escape the cold. Tonight’s low is forecasted to drop to 25°F, with temperatures potentially colder in some areas. Any wind chill will only make conditions more dangerous, putting our unsheltered neighbors at even greater risk of hypothermia and frostbite.
Our Asks Remain Clear and Urgent
1. Increase Shelter Capacity Immediately
• The Bellingham Severe Weather Shelter and other facilities must expand to meet the urgent needs of our community. Turning away people in freezing weather is disastrous and preventable.
2. Raise the Activation Threshold to 40°F Including Wind Chill
• Protecting people only at 32°F leaves countless individuals exposed to life-threatening conditions. Wind chill and precipitation must be considered more proactively to prevent unnecessary suffering.
3. Open the Shelter for 14 Consecutive Nights Starting January 17th
• With the encampment clearing on Bakerview Road scheduled for the week of January 20th, a two-week shelter opening ensures stability and access to vital resources for those displaced.
4. Plan for Winter 2025 and Beyond Now
• Current capacity is grossly insufficient. With over 1,000 people unsheltered, this issue will persist until leaders invest in sustainable, year-round shelter solutions, including expanded capacity and additional resources.
What You Can Do Right Now
• Contact Local Leaders:
• 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
Ask them to take immediate action to increase capacity, protect lives, and ensure no one is turned away into the cold.
• Share the Petition: Help us grow this movement. Every signature brings us closer to meaningful change.
• Petition link: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter
This is not just a crisis; it’s a humanitarian failure. Let’s hold our leaders accountable to ensure no one else suffers or dies from preventable exposure.
Thank you for your continued support and advocacy. Together, we can make a difference.
With Gratitude,
Tukayote Helianthus