The Bakerview/Northwest encampment clearing is less than two weeks away, and Whatcom County is facing a humanitarian crisis. Displacing dozens of people in the middle of January—one of the coldest and most dangerous times of the year—is both a short-term emergency and part of the larger, ongoing crisis of homelessness in our community. We are urging Whatcom County to open the Severe Weather Shelter for 14 consecutive days starting January 15, 2025. This small yet critical window would provide much-needed shelter for those displaced by the clearing and could save lives. Whatcom County Is Facing an Emergency The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an emergency as: • “An unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action.” • “An urgent need for assistance or relief.” This situation meets every definition of an emergency. We have witnessed multiple nights with temperatures at or below freezing, leaving at least 650 […]