Whatcom Housing Alliance

Whatcom Housing Alliance Creating opportunities for more diverse housing choices in all neighborhoods, and contributing toward equitable, prosperous, and healthy communities.

Whatcom County is projected to add more than 65,000 people over the next 20 years.That means we need a real plan for whe...
06/02/2026

Whatcom County is projected to add more than 65,000 people over the next 20 years.

That means we need a real plan for where people will live.

The Comprehensive Plan is one of the biggest tools local governments use to shape growth, housing, jobs, transportation, infrastructure, farmland, public services, and the environment.

For WHA, the housing question is central: Can we grow in a way that gives people more choices, supports affordability, and allows the next generation to build a life here?

Growth is coming. The choice is whether we plan for it well.

>> WHA encourages community members to stay engaged, follow the Comprehensive Plan process, and share specific, constructive ideas for how Whatcom County can meet this moment. Full article linked in bio.

Different people need different homes.A healthy community works better when more people can find a home that fits their ...
04/22/2026

Different people need different homes.

A healthy community works better when more people can find a home that fits their life, budget, and needs.

This carousel looks at five housing types that each play a different role in our community:

• MDU = mobile dwelling unit, such as a tiny home on wheels

• ADU = accessory dwelling unit, such as a backyard cottage or small secondary home

• Multifamily = many homes in one building, such as apartments or condos

• Middle housing = duplexes, triplexes, cottages, and townhomes

• Single-family homes = one home on its own lot

Each type can serve different households, including people in transition, older adults, renters, working households, first-time buyers, and larger families.

The goal is not one kind of home for everyone. The goal is a wider range of homes so more people can find the right fit and stay in the community.

What housing options do you think are most needed in Whatcom County?

Supply and demand is not just a theory. Bellingham's local attempts to increase housing supply are grounded in fact.Betw...
04/11/2026

Supply and demand is not just a theory. Bellingham's local attempts to increase housing supply are grounded in fact.

Between 2021 and 2026, Austin emerged as a national outlier. While most cities saw prices climb, Austin’s median rent fell by more than 16%.

How? By radically prioritizing housing production:

30% Housing Stock Growth:
* Added 120,000 units since 2015.

Regulatory Reform:
* Eliminated parking minimums and legalized ADUs citywide.

Competition Works:
* When tens of thousands of units hit the market, landlords have to compete for tenants, driving rates down.

While supply alone isn’t a "silver bullet" for every affordability challenge, Austin proves that we cannot build our way out of a shortage by staying stagnant. If we want lower rents, we have to allow more homes to be built, of all varieties.

Key Takeaways for the Coalition:
* Regulatory barriers are interconnected; solving the shortage requires a multi-pronged approach (Zoning, ADUs, Density Bonuses).

Shortages do not improve when little is built.

Competition impacts the entire market—including older, non-luxury buildings. Full article in bio.

The City of Bellingham is hosting a screening of "Decade of Fire" on April 22nd, to honor the passage of the Fair Housin...
04/10/2026

The City of Bellingham is hosting a screening of "Decade of Fire" on April 22nd, to honor the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and reflect on the ongoing work to ensure equal access to housing for all.

Set in the South Bronx during the 1970s, Decade of Fire documents how systemic neglect, redlining, and discriminatory policies contributed to the destruction of housing and the displacement of nearly half a million Black and Puerto Rican residents. Through the lens of Bronx-born Vivian Vázquez Irizarry, the film also tells a story of resistance, resilience, and rebuilding.

Following the screening, local leaders and City staff will join a panel discussion connecting the film’s themes to Bellingham and Whatcom County, including the lasting impacts of redlining, restrictive covenants, historic disinvestment, and inequities that continue to shape our housing system today.

Join us for an important evening of history, reflection, and local conversation. Register at link in bio

04/10/2026

The City of Bellingham Washington is hosting a FREE screening of "Decade of Fire" Mount Baker Theatre, April 22nd, to honor the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and reflect on the ongoing work to ensure equal access to housing for all.

Set in the South Bronx during the 1970s, Decade of Fire documents how systemic neglect, redlining, and discriminatory policies contributed to the destruction of housing and the displacement of nearly half a million Black and Puerto Rican residents. Through the lens of Bronx-born Vivian Vázquez Irizarry, the film also tells a story of resistance, resilience, and rebuilding.

Following the screening, local leaders and City staff will join a panel discussion connecting the film’s themes to Bellingham and Whatcom County, including the lasting impacts of redlining, restrictive covenants, historic disinvestment, and inequities that continue to shape our housing system today.

Join us for an important evening of history, reflection, and local conversation. Register at link in bio.

Huge Whatcom County Housing News! 🎉 Blaine just hit pause on downtown design requirements for one year!The goal is to re...
03/18/2026

Huge Whatcom County Housing News!

🎉 Blaine just hit pause on downtown design requirements for one year!

The goal is to reduce costs, remove subjectivity, and make it easier to actually build housing and commercial space. Developers have pointed to design review as a time and cost barrier, and this move is a test to see what happens when those constraints are lifted.

If it works, expect this conversation to show up in other Whatcom cities.

03/17/2026

Tiny homes can take many forms, and they can play a meaningful role in expanding housing options in Bellingham.

Mobile Dwelling Units (MDUs) include:
• Travel trailers / RVs
• Park Model RVs
• Tiny Homes on Wheels (THOWs)

These small, movable homes can often be installed quickly, cost far less than traditional construction, and allow people to use existing yards to create housing. They can support multigenerational living, provide space for caregivers or childcare and create affordable options for renters.

Across the region, communities are exploring how these homes can safely fit into neighborhoods while expanding housing choice.

Join us for Tiny House Happy Hour at (601 W Holly St) this Thursday at 5PM to hear from tiny home advocates, builders, residents, and Councilmember Jace Cotton about a proposed ordinance that could allow backyard tiny homes in Bellingham.

Facebook event link in bio.

03/16/2026

This Wednesday, meet us for a "Tiny House Happy Hour" (601 W Holly St) at 5PM.

Hear short presentations from tiny house builders, people living in tiny homes, and Councilmember Jace Cotton about a proposed ordinance that could allow backyard tiny homes in Bellingham.

>> Come learn, ask questions, and join the conversation.

02/23/2026

🤝 Curious about home sharing?

​Nesterly, with support from , are hosting an online info session to walk through how their platform connects people to create mutually beneficial housing solutions. This is a practical look at alternative housing models.

​Who this is for:

* ​Homeowners interested in renting out a spare room.

* ​Renters searching for creative, alternative housing options.

​Tap the link in our bio to RSVP for the next available webinar date.

Seattle just took a few more positive steps forward in its housing crisis. 🏙️Mayor Katie Wilson signed two new ordinance...
02/19/2026

Seattle just took a few more positive steps forward in its housing crisis. 🏙️

Mayor Katie Wilson signed two new ordinances this week that could cut housing development timelines by 5 to 12 months and here's what they actually mean:

📋 CB 121093 — SEPA Reform

Seattle used to require every new construction project to go through its own individual environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act. That process was long, expensive, and often redundant. This ordinance permanently removes that hurdle for most housing projects including emergency shelters, nonprofit housing, and market-rate apartments. Environmental protections aren't gone, they're already baked into the city's existing planning rules. Less double work = faster homes built.

⚡ CB 121135 — Permitting Streamlining

This one cuts through the red tape in the permitting process itself, eliminating unnecessary review steps so developers can break ground sooner on residential and mixed-use projects.

Together, these changes are a direct push toward Mayor Wilson's goal of opening 1,000 new units of emergency housing in 2025**. Young people, seniors, and working families have been feeling the squeeze for too long and while this won't fix everything overnight, it's a meaningful move in the right direction.

What do you think, is this enough to make a dent?

Address

1701 Ellis Street STE 221
Bellingham, WA
98225

Telephone

+13606477093

Website

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