Tag: winter weather shelter

We’ve reached 656 supporters, and your voices are being heard! Recently, the Whatcom County Council released a draft letter to County Executive Satpal Sidhu, acknowledging the urgent need for action to address the homelessness crisis and the upcoming encampment clearing at Bakerview/Northwest.

The letter supports key demands of this petition, including the recommendation to open the Severe Weather Shelter for two weeks starting January 17th, 2025. This is a critical step in providing stability and safety for those impacted by the clearing and freezing weather.

Read the full draft letter here.

What the Letter Recommends

The County Council’s draft letter outlines critical steps:

1. Open the Severe Weather Shelter for Two Full Weeks Starting January 17th:

• This would provide immediate relief during the coldest period of winter and help those displaced by the encampment clearing.

2. Raise the Activation Threshold to 40°F Including Wind Chill:

• Current policies leave too many vulnerable individuals without shelter during dangerously cold and wet conditions.

3. Expand Shelter Capacity and Develop Tiny Home Villages:

• The Severe Weather Shelter and Lighthouse Mission together offer only 350 beds, leaving over 650 individuals unsheltered every night based on the 2024 Point-in-Time Count. Tiny home villages could provide long-term stability.

4. Relax or Expedite Permitting Requirements for Extended Operations:

• Permitting challenges should not delay lifesaving shelter services during an emergency.

5. Plan for Winter 2025 Now:

• Long-term planning is crucial to prevent this crisis from recurring next year.

A Clear Emergency

The County Council’s letter makes it clear: this is an emergency. The encampment clearing combined with multiple nights of freezing temperatures poses a direct threat to human lives.

Merriam-Webster defines an emergency as “an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action.” The time to act is now.

What We’re Asking For

We fully support the County Council’s recommendations and call for:

1. Open the Severe Weather Shelter for Two Weeks Starting January 17th, 2025.

2. Raise the Activation Threshold to 40°F Including Wind Chill.

3. Relax or Expedite Permitting Requirements to allow for longer shelter operations.

4. Issue a New RFP for a Year-Round Shelter with an extended application period to attract qualified operators.

5. Plan for Winter 2025 Now to avoid another preventable crisis.

Take Action Today

Contact your leaders and demand immediate action:

• 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

Thank You for Standing with Us

With 656 supporters, we’re making a powerful statement that no one should be left out in the cold. Please continue to share this petition and amplify the call for humane and effective action. Together, we can ensure every person in Whatcom County has a safe place to turn.

Sign the Petition Here: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

With Gratitude,

Tukayote Helianthus

Next week’s forecast brings dangerously cold temperatures:

• Wednesday night (January 15): 34°F

• Thursday night (January 16): 32°F

• Friday night (January 17): 29°F

These temperatures are without factoring in any wind. With just a 5 MPH wind at 34°F, the wind chill could drop by approximately 5 degrees, making all three nights—and likely more—qualify under the county’s 32°F threshold for shelter activation.

This highlights the critical need for the Severe Weather Shelter to remain open, starting Wednesday, January 15th, and continuing for two full weeks.

Why Two Weeks Matter

The encampment clearing on January 20, 2025, is fast approaching. Dozens of unhoused individuals at the Bakerview/Northwest encampment will be displaced during the coldest time of year. Opening the shelter for 14 consecutive days starting January 15 would provide:

1. Immediate shelter for those displaced by the clearing.

2. Consistency and stability for those already suffering in freezing temperatures.

3. A critical window to connect individuals to resources, services, and more stable housing options.

The county has repeatedly claimed that operating for over two weeks would require additional permits. However, this 14-day period avoids the need for special permitting, as noted in city regulations. The county has no excuse not to act.

The Numbers Are Clear

• 2024 Point-in-Time Count: Over 1,000 unhoused individuals in Whatcom County.

• Severe Weather Shelter and Lighthouse Mission Ministries combined can provide 350 beds, leaving at least 650 people without shelter every night.

• 82 unhoused individuals died in Whatcom County in 2024.

This is an emergency. How many more lives will it take before action is taken?

We Need More Than One-Off Nights

The county has scheduled the Severe Weather Shelter to open on Sunday, January 12th, and Monday, January 13th, but we need consistent operations. The reliance on 48-hour forecasts has already left the shelter closed on multiple qualifying nights this winter. We cannot afford to continue this ineffective and dangerous approach.

What Needs to Happen

1. Open the Severe Weather Shelter for Two Full Weeks Starting January 15, 2025.

2. Relax or Expedite Permitting Requirements to allow shelters to operate continuously when needed.

3. Issue a New RFP for a Year-Round Shelter with sufficient time for responses.

4. Begin Planning for Winter 2025 Now to prevent a repeat of this year’s failures.

Take Action Now

Contact your leaders and demand they prioritize human lives over bureaucratic delays:

• 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

The Time to Act Is Now

This situation meets every definition of an emergency. We cannot sit idly by as freezing temperatures and an encampment clearing put vulnerable lives at risk.

Opening the shelter for 14 days starting January 15 is the humane and logical response. The resources exist; now we need the will to act.

Sign the Petition Here: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

With Gratitude,

Tukayote Helianthus

Whatcom County has announced that the Severe Weather Shelter will be open on the evenings of Sunday, January 12th, and Monday, January 13th. This is a positive step, and we are grateful for the county’s decision to act in response to the forecasted freezing temperatures.

However, this is just the beginning. The upcoming clearing of the Bakerview/Northwest encampment on January 20th will displace dozens of individuals during one of the coldest months of the year. This is a short-term emergency on top of the broader homelessness crisis in our county.

We Must Stay Focused on the Emergency

Opening the shelter for two nights is important, but it does not address the larger crisis at hand. The encampment clearing will push vulnerable individuals into freezing conditions without adequate shelter or resources.

This is why we continue to demand the following actions from our leaders:

1. Open the Severe Weather Shelter for Two Continuous Weeks Starting January 15, 2025

• This would provide critical shelter for those displaced by the clearing and those suffering in the cold.

2. Relax or Expedite Permitting Requirements

• Remove bureaucratic barriers to ensure shelters can operate continuously during emergencies.

3. Issue a New RFP for a Year-Round Shelter

• The county’s previous 10-day RFP window was insufficient. A new RFP with adequate time for responses is needed to secure a year-round shelter operator.

4. Plan for Winter 2025 Now

• The county must start planning now to prevent this crisis from repeating next winter.

The Crisis by the Numbers

• The 2024 Point-in-Time Count revealed over 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in Whatcom County.

• The Severe Weather Shelter and Lighthouse Mission Ministries can only provide 350 beds combined, leaving at least 650 people unsheltered every night.

• In 2024, 82 unhoused individuals died in Whatcom County.

How many more lives will it take before this emergency is truly addressed?

How You Can Help

1. Sign the Petition:

Add your voice to the growing call for action.

https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

2. Sign Up for the Protest:

Join the “Night Out in the Cold” protest and stand in solidarity with those left unsheltered. Even if you can’t stay all night, your presence helps amplify the message.

https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

3. Contact Your Leaders:

Tell them this emergency cannot be ignored. Demand continuous shelter operations and real solutions.

• 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

This Is a Step, Not the Solution

While we are encouraged by the county’s decision to open the shelter for two nights, it is clear that much more needs to be done. The encampment clearing on January 20th represents an imminent emergency, and we cannot afford further delays.

Let’s continue to push for immediate action and long-term solutions to ensure no one in our community is left out in the cold.

Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

With Gratitude,

Tukayote Helianthus

Subject: Follow-Up: Request to Open Severe Weather Shelter During January Encampment Clearing

Dear Mayor Kim Lund, Members of the Bellingham City Council, Members of the Whatcom County Council, and County Executive Satpal Sidhu,

I am writing again to express my deep concern regarding the upcoming clearing of the Bakerview and Northwest Avenue encampment, scheduled to begin the week of January 20, 2025. As previously mentioned, this action will displace approximately 75–100 individuals, many of whom have no other shelter options. With the risks posed by cold weather and limited alternatives for those affected, I urge you to take immediate action to mitigate the harm caused by this clearing.

Specifically, I ask that you open the severe weather shelter for 14 days starting on January 15, 2025. This step would provide a safe, warm place for those being displaced, ensuring that lives are not unnecessarily put at risk during this transition.

Why This Action Is Critical

1. Immediate Humanitarian Need: The planned clearing will force dozens of individuals, many with health conditions or disabilities, into dangerous weather conditions. January is one of the coldest months of the year, and exposure to these elements can be life-threatening, particularly for those without adequate protection from the cold.

2. Lack of Shelter Capacity: As it stands, Bellingham and Whatcom County do not have the capacity to accommodate the individuals who will be displaced. Current shelters are already at or near capacity, and the severe weather shelter threshold of 32°F does not sufficiently address the compounded dangers of wind chill, wet conditions, and nighttime temperatures in the low 40s.

3. A Temporary But Life-Saving Solution: Opening the severe weather shelter for 14 days would provide a temporary solution to protect those affected while longer-term options are pursued. This action would demonstrate the City and County’s commitment to public safety and compassion, especially as this clearing involves coordinated participation from local authorities.

4. Alignment with Community Values: Bellingham and Whatcom County pride themselves on being inclusive, compassionate, and community-focused. Failing to provide a safety net for those displaced would contradict these values and tarnish trust in local leadership.

A Simple But Vital Request

I understand the challenges involved in coordinating shelter operations, but this is a moment that calls for decisive action. Opening the severe weather shelter for 14 days starting January 15, 2025, would:

• Provide immediate relief and safety for those displaced.

• Prevent unnecessary suffering and potential fatalities during a cold and dangerous time of year.

• Give outreach teams a centralized location to connect individuals with resources, reducing the chaos and harm caused by the clearing.

A Broader Call for Long-Term Solutions

While this request addresses an immediate need, I want to reiterate the importance of developing sustainable, long-term solutions. This includes expanding shelter capacity, raising the severe weather threshold to 40°F (including wind chill), investing in affordable housing, and prioritizing housing-first initiatives.

Closing

The clearing of the Bakerview encampment is imminent, and its impact will be profound. Opening the severe weather shelter for a temporary period is the very least we can do to ensure the safety and dignity of those affected. I implore you to act quickly and decisively to protect the lives of our most vulnerable residents.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and welcome the opportunity to collaborate on humane and effective solutions.

Sincerely,

Tukayote Helianthus

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

Thank you to the 627 supporters who are standing up for our unhoused neighbors and demanding better from our local leaders. Your support is more crucial than ever, as the county continues to fail the most vulnerable members of our community.

Last night, as wind chills dropped into the 20s, the Severe Weather Shelter remained closed. Tonight and tomorrow, snow is in the forecast, yet the county has not announced an opening. This lack of action in dangerous weather is completely unacceptable.

How Many More Nights?

The Severe Weather Shelter exists to save lives during dangerous conditions, but the county continues to fail those who need it most. Their own policies, based on a 32°F threshold, ignore the real and immediate dangers posed by wind, rain, and snow at higher temperatures.

Every day this shelter remains closed is another day people are forced to suffer in the cold, with nowhere to go. As wind and snow move in, the county’s inaction will only increase the suffering.

County Admissions Highlight Systemic Failures

1. Threshold is Too Low

• The shelter opens only when temperatures hit 32°F for four or more hours. Hypothermia can occur at temperatures below 40°F, especially with wind and rain.

2. High Costs, Minimal Action

• The county is spending $655,000 to operate the shelter for up to 55 nights, with a cost of over $11,900 per night for just 70 beds.

3. Lack of Leadership

• The county admitted that staffing and operational challenges prevent them from running a continuous shelter, leaving people to guess whether they’ll have a safe place to sleep.

4. Over 1,000 Still Unsheltered

• Even if the shelter were open every night, over 1,000 individuals would still be left out in the cold.

What Needs to Change

1. Raise the Threshold to 40°F

• Protect people from hypothermia, injuries, and death by raising the activation threshold to 40°F, including wind chill.

2. Operate Continuously Throughout Winter

• Intermittent openings create chaos. A consistent shelter model is essential to save lives.

3. Adopt Cost-Effective Solutions

• The county’s current model is expensive and inefficient. Proven alternatives like the Road2Home model offer better outcomes at half the cost.

4. Improve Communication and Outreach

• Many unhoused individuals remain unaware of shelter openings due to poor communication. The county must do better.

Take Action Now

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 makes a difference.

https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

2. Share the Petition

Spread the word on social media, with friends, and within your networks. Every signature amplifies our voice.

https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

3. 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

Sample Email Template:

Subject: Open the Shelter Before It’s Too Late

Dear [Recipient],

Last night, wind chills dropped into the 20s, and the Severe Weather Shelter remained closed. Tonight and tomorrow, snow is in the forecast, yet no action has been announced.

This is unacceptable. The threshold must be raised to 40°F, including wind chill, and the shelter must operate consistently throughout the winter. People are suffering and dying in preventable conditions while leaders remain silent.

Please act now to save lives.

Thank you.

Thank You and Keep Fighting

Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition, shared it, and signed up for the protest. Your compassion and dedication give hope to those who need it most.

Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

Together, we can demand better. Let’s ensure no one is left out in the cold.

With Gratitude,

Tukayote Helianthus

Thank you to the 618 supporters who have joined this fight to demand dignity, compassion, and safety for our unhoused neighbors. Your voices have made it clear: leaving people to suffer in freezing conditions is not acceptable.

Despite weeks of silence, the county has now revealed key details about the Severe Weather Shelter (SWS) program. Their own words expose a deeply flawed system that prioritizes dollars over lives, leaving over 1,000 individuals unsheltered on any given night.

What the County Has Admitted

1. “It’s a Dollars and Cents Exercise”

• Erika Lautenbach, Director of Whatcom County Health and Community Services, admitted:

“I hate to say it, but it is a dollars and cents exercise. It’s really hard for us to see people sleeping on the streets and suffering.”

• While the county acknowledges the heartbreak of seeing people in these conditions, their actions prioritize budgets over lives.

2. Threshold Remains Dangerously Low

• This year, the activation threshold was raised from 28°F to 32°F—a small improvement, but still far too low.

• Hypothermia can occur at temperatures below 40°F, especially with rain and wind. By keeping the threshold at 32°F, the county is knowingly leaving people to endure dangerous conditions.

3. Intermittent Operations Create Chaos

• The shelter operates only on select nights based on weather forecasts, leaving unhoused individuals to gamble on whether they’ll have a safe place to sleep.

• The county admitted:

“Despite our best efforts, the unpredictable nature of weather… may result in activation on nights that no longer meet the temperature threshold.”

4. High Costs and Inefficiency

• The county has budgeted $655,000 for up to 55 nights, at a cost of over $11,900 per night for just 70 beds.

• Lautenbach claimed raising the threshold to 40°F would triple costs, cutting into other services. Yet, there are no public timelines or plans for long-term solutions like tiny homes or recovery housing.

5. Over 1,000 Still Unsheltered

• Even if the shelter operated every night, it would only serve 70 people, leaving over 1,000 individuals without protection from severe weather.

Their Words, Our Reality

Lautenbach stated:

“To make sure that in the harshest conditions people aren’t dying on the streets.”

But people are dying. The county’s decisions are forcing vulnerable residents to endure freezing temperatures, rain, and wind with no shelter in sight. On top of this, their admissions reveal an unwillingness to make necessary changes:

• Raising the threshold to 40°F would save lives, but the county refuses, citing “budget constraints.”

• Their failure to secure a nonprofit partner has left them scrambling to operate a flawed and expensive system.

• Communications remain inadequate, with many unhoused individuals unaware of shelter openings.

The Human Cost of Inaction

This winter, our neighbors are sleeping in doorways, under tarps, and on freezing concrete. Last week, I walked through downtown Bellingham and saw dozens of makeshift shelters. One man had nothing but a thin blanket for protection. This is what happens when we reduce human lives to “dollars and cents.”

While the county says they want “everyone to have shelter every night,” their actions tell a different story. The Severe Weather Shelter is failing to meet even the most basic needs of our unhoused community.

What Needs to Change

1. Raise the Threshold to 40°F

• The county’s own admissions confirm that lives are being left to chance. Hypothermia doesn’t wait for 32°F, and neither should shelter operations.

2. Operate Continuously Throughout Winter

• Intermittent openings create chaos for clients and staff alike. A consistent winter shelter model would save lives and provide stability.

3. Adopt Cost-Effective Solutions

• The current model is inefficient and costly. The Road2Home model, which operated a continuous shelter for 90 nights at half the county’s cost per night, proves there are better options.

4. Demand Accountability

• The county’s refusal to act is a betrayal of their stated “moral imperative.” It’s time for leadership to prioritize human lives over financial calculations.

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 our unhoused neighbors. Even if you can’t stay all night, your participation will amplify our message.

https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

2. Share the Petition

Every signature strengthens our case. Share it with friends, family, and on social media to help us reach more people.

https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

3. Contact Local Leaders

Demand they raise the shelter threshold and operate consistently. Their silence is unacceptable.

• 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

Suggested Email Template:

“Dear [Recipient],

Over 618 residents have signed a petition calling for the Severe Weather Shelter threshold to be raised to 40°F, including wind chill, and for consistent operations. The county’s admissions confirm an inefficient and costly model that prioritizes budgets over lives.

Please act immediately to raise the threshold and adopt a humane, predictable shelter model. Preventing hypothermia deaths is not just a financial calculation—it’s a moral imperative.

Thank you for addressing this urgent issue.”

Let’s Keep the Pressure On

Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition, shared it, and signed up for the protest. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and demand the compassion and action our community deserves.

Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

The time for action is now. Let’s make sure no one is left out in the cold.

With Gratitude,

Tukayote Helianthus

Thank you to the 611 supporters who have signed this petition and stood up for our unhoused neighbors. Your voices matter, and together we are sending a strong message that no one should be left out in the cold. However, it has now been over 24 days since this petition began, and we’ve heard nothing from our county and city leaders. Their continued silence in the face of suffering is not just disappointing—it’s unacceptable.

Shelter Closed During Dangerous Weather

In recent weeks, we’ve experienced freezing temperatures, wind chills in the 20s, and relentless rain and wind. These conditions are hazardous, yet the Severe Weather Shelter has remained closed on nights that meet the county’s own qualifying criteria.

Our unhoused neighbors have been left to endure the elements, with nothing but makeshift shelters of cardboard, tarps, or thin blankets. Some don’t even have that. The human toll is devastating, and it doesn’t have to be this way.

Even if the shelter operated every night, it could only house 70 people—leaving over 1,000 individuals unsheltered, based on the 2024 Point in Time Count. These are preventable tragedies.

24 Days of Silence: No Response is a Response

It has been 24 days since this petition began. Not a single county or city leader has acknowledged the 611 voices calling for compassion, safety, and consistent shelter operations.

This silence speaks volumes. It is a decision to ignore the suffering of the most vulnerable members of our community. It is a decision to turn away from preventable deaths and injuries.

But we won’t stop. We will keep pushing until our leaders listen and act.

The “Night Out in the Cold” Protest

In response to this inaction, we are planning a “Night Out in the Cold” protest to highlight the urgency of this issue and stand in solidarity with those forced to endure these harsh conditions.

This protest is an opportunity to:

• Demand that the Severe Weather Shelter operates every night temperatures drop to 40°F, including wind chill.

• Show support for our unhoused neighbors and remind them they are not forgotten.

• Demonstrate to our leaders that this community demands action, not silence.

Sign up here to join the protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

Even if you can’t stay outside all night, your presence will help amplify our message and demand change.

How You Can Help Right Now

1. Sign Up for the Protest

Show your support by joining this powerful demonstration.

https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

2. Share the Petition

Every new signature strengthens our case and brings us closer to real change. Share it with your friends, family, and social media networks.

https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

3. Email Local Leaders

Hold our leaders accountable by urging them to raise the shelter threshold and operate consistently.

• Satpal Sidhu (County Executive): ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us

• Whatcom County Council: council@co.whatcom.wa.us

• Mayor Kim Lund: mayorsoffice@cob.org

Suggested Message:

“It has been 24 days since 611 supporters asked you to raise the Severe Weather Shelter threshold to 40°F, including wind chill. Your silence is unacceptable. People are suffering, and lives are at stake. Please act with compassion and prioritize consistent shelter operations. The time to lead is now.”

Thank You for Fighting for Change

To everyone who has signed this petition, shared it, and signed up for the protest—thank you. Your compassion and commitment are what will drive this movement forward.

This is not just about shelter; it’s about dignity, humanity, and justice. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no one in Whatcom County is left to suffer in the cold.

Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/WhatcomWinterShelter

Sign Up for the Protest: https://form.jotform.com/243544752585061

Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s keep demanding action. Let’s keep fighting for change.

With Gratitude,

Tukayote