3-5-2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Homelessness and housing affordability emerged as the top concerns of Bellingham residents in the latest city survey.
The Western Washington University Center for Economic and Business Research mailed 7,000 questionnaires and received 1,295 responses in a survey conducted last fall.
Concerns about homelessness and issues respondents connect to homelessness like crime and an unsafe downtown topped the list of things that need to be addressed.
Next is affordable housing.
Other issues important to residents are neighborhood safety, economic growth and development, promoting clean energy and fairness in access to city resources.
Despite the wide-ranging concerns, 92% of residents rate Bellingham as having a good or excellent quality of life.
For the full report on the survey, and to see past years’ surveys as well, visit this page on the City of Bellingham website.