Severe weather shelters to open Sunday January 12

Severe cold, snow predicted for next week

January 10, 2020 - by Ann Beck, Whatcom County Health Department, and Vanessa Blackburn, City of Bellingham

Beginning Sunday night, January 12, additional nighttime shelters for people experiencing homelessness will open due to severe cold and the possibility of snow. Severe weather shelters will continue to operate for multiple evenings while temperatures remain low.

Severe Weath​​er ​​​Shelters

  • Family Shelter:  Garden St. United Methodist Church will be offering space for families with children to stay the night. To check in before 4 p.m. on a weekday, visit the Opportunity Council at 1111 Cornwall Avenue. To check in after hours or on a weekend, call 360-593-7500 to find out if space is available.
  • CTK Adult Men's Shelter: Christ the King Church (CTK) will operate a shelter for adult men on January 12, 13, and 14. Guests must check in for this shelter by 6:30 p.m. at the “Jubilee Station” located near the Lighthouse Mission at 1012 W Holly Street. Guests will be transported to the shelter, located at CTK's Norway Hall.
  • Seventh Day Adventist Adult Shelter: The Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 5321 Waschke Road in North Bellingham will open a shelter for adults beginning Monday, January 13.  Additional details about this shelter location will be available on Monday, January 13 through the Emergency Winter Shelter Hotline at (360)788-7983.​​​​
  • FCC Adult Shelter:
    Fountain Community Church (FCC) will open a severe weather shelter for adults on Wednesday, January 15. Guests must check in for this shelter by 6:30 p.m. at the “Jubilee Station” located near the Lighthouse Mission at 1012 W Holly Street. Guests will be transported to the shelter.

The need for severe weather shelters to operate after Wednesday night will be reevaluated as forecasts are updated next week.

Other S​helter Options

Severe weather shelters will operate in addition to the existing year-round shelter operated by Lighthouse Mission Ministries and two winter shelters.

Lighthouse Mission Ministries Men and Women's Overnight Shelter and Day Center (Drop-In Center)

  • Located at 1013 W. Holly Street.
  • Operated by Lighthouse Mission Ministries (LMM) year-round.
  • Check-in is at 1012 W. Holly Street.  Check in no later than 6:30 pm. 
  • ​Up to 150 men and women can be accommodated at the Drop-in Center each night.
  • The Drop-in Center is available for men and women during the day and offers services from partnering organizations.
  • For more information, visit www.thelighthousemission.org/what-we-do/drop-in-center/.

Winter Shelter – For Women

  • Located at Civic Stadium Locker Room.
  • Operated by the Opportunity Council on behalf of the City of Bellingham. 
  • Open nightly from December 2019 – February 2020.
  • Check-in is at 1012 W. Holly Street.  Check in no later than 6:30 pm. 


Winter Shelter – For Youth

  • Located at First Congregational Church of Bellingham (2500 E Street, Bellingham)
  • Operated by Northwest Youth Services, funded in part by City of Bellingham and Whatcom County
  • Overnight shelter for up to 35 youth ages 13-24.
  • Check-in is at First Congregational Church from 8:00-10:00pm.
  • For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, contact Emersonm@nwys.org  or (360) 734-9862 ext. 125.​

About Severe ​​​Weather Shelters

Severe weather shelters are coordinated by the Whatcom County Health Department and are run by volunteers.  Severe weather shelters operate when a temperature of 28°F is forecasted as the overnight low and there is limited or no capacity at the Lighthouse Mission or Women's Winter Shelter. Precipitation and wind chill are also considered when activating severe weather shelters on nights when the temperature threshold is not met.

Up-to-date winter shelter information can be found at
www.whatcomcounty.us/homelessshelter or by calling the Emergency Winter Shelter Hotline at (360) 788-7983.


Media Contact

​Ann Beck, Human Services Supervisor 

Whatcom County Health Department

(360) 778-6055 

abeck@co.whatcom.wa.us


Vanessa Blackburn, Communications Director

City of Bellingham 

(360) 778-8115

vablackburn@cob.org​



More City News >>

Subscribe to City News