Whatcom County is inviting residents to contribute their insights on homelessness strategies as it formulates a plan for the period of 2026 to 2030. The Housing Advisory Committee is responsible for creating a draft plan, which will be open for public feedback by September 11, 2025, and presented to the County Council for approval in November. Community members are urged to fill out a survey that explores crucial objectives, including the balance between short-term and long-term housing solutions. Chris D’Onofrio, Housing Program Supervisor, highlights the importance of understanding community priorities to make informed decisions on resource allocation. The county’s recent Point in Time count recorded 846 individuals and 671 households experiencing homelessness, underscoring the critical nature of this issue.

Additionally, over 1,000 households sought assistance from the Coordinated Entry Housing Pool in 2023, indicating a significant demand for support. Public comments are welcomed to enrich the dialogue surrounding the homelessness plan. This initiative follows previous discussions on severe weather shelters and encampment clearings in Bellingham, illustrating the county's ongoing efforts to address homelessness.