BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously in favor of a lease for a new emergency drop-in shelter for the homeless.
Mayor Seth Fleetwood told a special Tuesday meeting of the Council that the need is urgent as the current shelter has to be out of Bellingham High School by July 15th.
Public Works Director Eric Johnston said they’ve considered a number of sites, even a large tent facility, but time and money constraints led them to the vacant Public Market building on Cornwall, explaining that “water, sewer, power are already to the sight. Communications are already at the sight. There is very limited work we need to do to bring this up to speed, and we can get that work done within the next 30 days.”
But some objected to the plan during a public comment period.
Local attorney Frank Chmelik said the homeless population would likely steer people away from downtown businesses, saying “we’re gonna go to Barkley, we’re gonna go to Fairhaven or we’re gonna go downtown. See, ya know, downtown is kind of problematic.”
Hans Erchinger-Davis with the Lighthouse Mission said they’re committed to making this location a success as they have at the high school just a block away.