HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2019-011Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Agenda Bill Master Report
File Number: AB2019-138
File ID: AB2019-138 Version: 1 Status: Approved as Amended
File Created: 02/12/2019 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us
Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution
First Assigned to: Council
Agenda Date: 02/12/2019 Next Mtg. Date: Hearing Date:
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM:
Resolution requesting that the County Executive provide staff resources and funding to coordinate with
Whatcom County cities, social services agencies, and other providers to provide sufficient shelter
capacity during cold weather periods and coordinate issuing hotel/motel accommodation vouchers
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
Resolution requesting that the County Executive provide staff resources and funding to coordinate with
Whatcom County cities, social services agencies, and other providers to provide sufficient shelter
capacity during cold weather periods and coordinate issuing hotel/motel accommodation vouchers
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE
Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To:
02/12/2019 Council APPROVED AS AMENDED
Attachments: Housing Voucher Resolution, SECOND AGENDA REVISION NOTICE FOR 2-12-2019
Final Action:
02/12/2019
Enactment Date:
02/12/2019
Enactment #:
RES 2019-011
Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 211312019
1 PROPOSED BY: BROWNE AND DONOVAN
2 INTRODUCTION DATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2019
3
4 RESOLUTION NO. '019-011
5
6 REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PROVIDE STAFF RESOURCES AND
7 FUNDING TO COORDINATE WITH WHATCOM COUNTY CITIES, SOCIAL SERVICES
8 AGENCIES, AND OTHER PROVIDERS, TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SHELTER CAPACITY
9 DURING COLD WEATHER PERIODS, AND COORDINATE ISSUING HOTEL/MOTEL
10 ACCOMMODATION VOUCHERS
11
12 WHEREAS, regardless of the time of day, or day of week, individuals and families in
13 need of cold weather shelter may not have the resources, time, or ability to contact
14 agencies that provide shelter in times of cold weather; and
15
16 WHEREAS, winter storms don't limit their operating hours from Monday -Friday, 9am
17 to 5pm; and
18
19 WHEREAS, weather conditions will make life extremely hazardous for those living
20 without permanent housing; and
21
22 WHEREAS, children are much more physically and emotionally fragile than adults
23 and should never be left on the streets at night (winter or summer) and providing motel
24 vouchers or shelter opportunities to homeless families as needed helps protect our
25 communities most vulnerable citizens; and
26
27 WHEREAS, families in need of cold weather shelter have explained that there is
28 nowhere to obtain housing vouchers after 5pm on weekdays, during the weekends, and
29 holidays; and
30
31 WHEREAS, the cost to the community of having the unsheltered fall sick and
32 subsequently require admission to the emergency room (often their sole source of medical
33 care) is much greater than the cost of preventing the unsheltered becoming sick in the first
34 place; and
35
36 WHEREAS, there are very limited options for families to find cold weather shelter
37 that does not require men and women/children to go to separate facilities; and
38
39 WHEREAS, organizations like the Lighthouse Mission, Opportunity Council, DVSAS,
40 Brigid Collins, and NW Youth Services have been exemplary at issuing accommodation
41 vouchers for people; and
42
43 WHEREAS, these same organizations often know which individuals should NOT be
44 housed in the same place as a vulnerable family because they could pose a threat to the
45 health and safety of a vulnerable parent or child; and
46
47 WHEREAS, in times of cold weather, these same organizations lack the capacity,
48 resources, and operational schedules to respond to the need to shelter people in times of
49 cold weather emergencies; and
50
51 WHEREAS, local governments themselves, and non-profit organizations in addition
52 to those listed above, when coordinated with local governments, might provide additional
53 capacity to provide cold weather shelter and accommodation vouchers; and
54
55 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Executive has recognized the critical importance of
56 this issue, has recognized that some County funds can be available to assist in addressing
57 the crisis of cold weather shelter, and has been coordinating efforts on the matter with the
58 City of Bellingham; and,
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WHEREAS, the City of Bellingham is the permitting authority within its jurisdiction,
and has worked diligently coordinating with multiple non-profit organizatons to address the
crisis of cold weather shelter; and,
WHEREAS, among local governments, the Whatcom County Council acts as the
Whatcom County Health Board to enact local rules and regulations as are necessary to
preserve, promote, and improve public health and make recommendations to the Whatcom
County Executive on matters affecting public health in our community; and
WHEREAS, the crisis of lack of access to cold weather shelter is a clear, enduring,
and recurring threat to public health.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council
respectfully requests the County Executive work with the Health Department, the City of
Bellingham, the small cities, and relevant non -profits to improve efforts at coordinating
responses to cold weather shelter crises.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council respectfully requests the County
Executive coordinate improving communication between local governments and relevant
non -profits regarding access and capacity to cold weather shelter.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such responses include, but are not limited to,
planning for and providing some County funding, in coordination and cooperation with other
local governments and relevant non -profits, for potential access to County facilities as an
emergency resource for shelter in times of cold weather.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council respectfully requests the County
Executive expand the existing hotel/motel voucher program currently in effect by the
County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council respectfully requests the County
Executive to include the Civic Center Garden Room or another appropriate location
downtown in the severe weather shelter inventory, ideally to be staffed by volunteers or as
contracted by the County as needed.
BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Health Department assume a
lead role in coordinating these efforts.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Council respectfully requests the County
Executive contract with social services agencies that can either maintain an open office or
provide on call services to be able to issue the communities supply of emergency housing
vouchers
to�fi ,mj iljpQ jyproughout periods of cold weather.
P r; i day of February , 2019.
F\l`�a WHAWOU
NCIL
ATEtJIM," WHASHINGTON
DaftaBrown aJi , Clgi k«of tfz�e Coucil Rud B owne, Council Chair
APIPRO ,EJD, AS.- O_TOR@
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
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