Dec 6, 2024
Great news! The county has decided to open the winter weather shelter on Monday and Tuesday, even though the forecasted temperatures don’t meet the current 32°F threshold. This is a small but important victory—proof that our voices are being heard and that pressure from the community can lead to change.
However, this is just the beginning. While this decision shows flexibility, it’s not a sustainable solution. The sporadic, last-minute nature of these openings still leaves gaps in care and fails to address the real danger posed by temperatures above 32°F when factoring in wind chill and wet conditions.
Why the Fight Must Continue
• Lives Are Still at Risk: Consistent shelter openings at 40°F, including wind chill, would save more lives and prevent avoidable suffering.
• A Long-Term Plan is Needed: Sporadic openings make it impossible for shelters to build reliable staffing and volunteer schedules, leading to higher costs and inefficiencies.
• We’ve Proven Change is Possible: Road2Home’s consistent, 90-night shelter model at $111 per bed per night shows how effective and affordable a sustainable approach can be compared to the county’s current $426 per bed per night model.
This small victory is encouraging, but our work isn’t done. We need a long-term solution that ensures no one in our community is left out in the cold.
Keep Sharing and Supporting
Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared this petition so far. Your support is making a difference, but we need to keep going. Please share this update with friends and family, and encourage them to sign the petition. Together, we can push for consistent, compassionate shelter policies that save lives and create a stronger community.
Let’s keep the momentum going—every signature brings us closer to real change!
On a positive note, King5 News covered the petition today. View it here: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/homeless/petition-minimum-temperature-cold-weather-shelter-opening-whatcom-county/281-3c128b33-6ba7-47ed-9541-7170db839d82
With Gratitude,
Tukayote Helianthus