These community groups condemn Bellingham homeless camp removal, demand no more sweeps
The Bellingham Herald 2/5/2021 Denver Pratt, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Feb. 5 More than a dozen local community organizations have come together to condemn the way the city of Bellingham handled the removal of a downtown homeless tent encampment late last week.
The group has also asked that the city create a permanent policy banning homeless encampment clean-ups and offer residents of the previous downtown camp services and options for temporary and permanent housing.
The city on Feb. 2 posted a deadline of 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, for people to remove themselves and their belongings from a new homeless encampment in the lower parking lot of Frank Geri Softball Fields off of Puget Street. The city s legal notice said As of the date below this property will be subject to clean up efforts by the city. Remaining on this property could subject you to being a
Feb. 2 Homeless people who moved near Frank Geri Softball Fields after the city of Bellingham removed them from a downtown encampment last week were told Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 2, they must move by 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. Overnight camping in city parks is not allowed by city municipal code without a permit, according to the city's Tuesday afternoon statement. The city of Bellingham .
Bellingham opens this new temporary winter shelter for the homeless
The Bellingham Herald 1/3/2021 Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Jan. 3 BELLINGHAM A temporary winter shelter for the homeless in the parking lot of Frank Geri Softball Fields on Puget Street has opened, and 10 people are living there so far, according to the Bellingham nonprofit that is operating the site.
Known as Swift Haven, the encampment opened Saturday, Dec. 26. The first residents are living in tents, which will soon be replaced by tiny homes that are expected to arrive at the site starting the week of Jan. 4.
Another 18 people are waiting to be cleared by the Bellingham Police Department, which will check for warrants a normal process, said Doug Gustafson, chairman of HomesNOW!, operator of Swift Haven.
Bellingham finds new site for winter shelter for those who are homeless
The Bellingham Herald 12/11/2020 Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)
Up to 28 people who are homeless will stay at a temporary winter shelter at Frank Geri Softball Fields on Puget Street, according to an email from the Bellingham mayor’s office on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Bellingham nonprofit HomesNOW! will operate the encampment, which will be located in the parking lot for the softball fields that are part of the Civic Athletic Complex in the Puget neighborhood.
HomesNOW! already runs Unity Village, a tiny homes encampment located in the parking lot at 210 McKenzie Ave. near the Post Point Water Treatment Plant in the Fairhaven neighborhood.