Winter Weather Emergency | Bellingham, WA | February 2019

February 2019 has proven this year to exceed any moderate temperatures and many who are unsheltered are at risk this winter. Due to inclement weather that is a norm and condition of the Northwest during wintertime, community at-large is addressing a life and death scenario of those living outdoors who are unable to find adequate shelter. The objective is to replace complacency with urgency and responsiveness.

Under the premise of a WEATHER emergency, local government is in a position to address the limitations that place unhoused lives at risk and situate the government as an extension of emergency responsiveness. Both City and County councils have opted to open city and county facilities to challenge the status quo and offer alternative warming centers in response to public outcry that current shelter conditions are not available or accessible to all.