BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) is once again taking the lead in finding a severe weather shelter.

In a presentation to the Bellingham City Council on Monday, Oct. 21, the department said that they did not receive any applications for a winter shelter space this year. The city used a combination of motel rooms and a vacant property to keep 50 individuals and 60 families warm last year during the winter months.

However, that vacant space previously used is no longer available.

WCHCS says that as of September, their Housing Pool has 279 individuals and 291 families with children waiting for housing or shelter.

This year’s higher numbers have prompted the department to allocate $450,000 toward finding a winter shelter space before our region’s first cold snap.

They add that space in motels for families will still be available during severe weather events.