BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The search is on to find a host for next winter’s severe weather shelter in Bellingham.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services is offering up to $550,000 in funding for providers who can operate the shelter.

Anyone interested can submit their plan to manage it or propose a location by June 24.

According to the listing, applicants can choose to operate either a severe weather shelter for nights when weather conditions are deemed dangerous or a seasonal winter shelter that’s open nightly.

The department’s postseason review of last winter’s shelter recommended that it operate regularly due to the uncertainty that came with opening it based on weather forecasts.

Health and Community Services was forced to take the lead on operating the shelter last winter after no one applied.