KGMI News
By Mike Davis
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The homeless tent city protest at Bellingham City Hall continues today.
At last count, over 60 campers were protesting what they call homeless sweeps by the city.
On Friday evening, a representative of the group who identified himself as the camp’s cook said they would welcome a new campsite for the tent city if one was offered.
In his words, no local church had offered outreach.
In an email to Interfaith Coalition last Tuesday, Mayor Kelli Linville’s office had requested assistance housing the campers.
Hans Erchinger-Davis, Executive Director of Bellingham’s Lighthouse Mission Saturday said in an email to KGMI that the Mission’s easy access drop-in center program is not at capacity, and as of Friday night had 47 unused beds.
In his words, “tent cities are one of the most ineffective ways anyone can address the complexity of issues driving homelessness that I know of. Tent cities keep people hurting and stuck, and without motivation to move forward.”
On Friday, Mayor Kelli Linville said the City of Bellingham tent encampment permit is set to expire as planned on noon Monday.
Erchinger-Davis says the Lighthouse Mission will be on site at City Hall at that time to offer services to the campers, to help ease their transition.