Recent years have seen significant housing-related legislation passed at the state level. Many of these bills interact with one another and require changes to the Bellingham Municipal Code over the next year. The City of Bellingham is working through these changes and will discuss their anticipated impacts, timing, and resulting approaches.

The Planning & Community Development Department of the City of Bellingham guides and regulates community growth and development in a manner that protects environmental resources, enhances quality of life, promotes distinctive neighborhoods and a healthy downtown and involves citizens in the decisions that affect them.

Washington has taken big steps forward on housing through statewide reforms for ADUs, middle housing  and parking reform, and updates to incentive programs like MFTE. But there is much more work to be done to build the affordable, livable neighborhoods of tomorrow. From the next wave of policy frontiers, to the meat and potatoes of implementation—the fight for affordable communities is just getting started.

In this keynote, Ron Davis will explore how communities can move the ball forward on both policy and production. He will outline practical strategies for tacking financing gaps, construction costs, and permitting delays—helping us think about how to move from new laws to new homes.

Join us for an evening of connection, celebration, and community!

Kulshan Community Land Trust’s Annual Member Meeting is a chance for our homeowners, supporters, and partners to come together, hear updates on our work, and celebrate the impact we’re making together. Per our bylaws, this gathering is an important moment for member engagement and organizational transparency—but it’s also a joyful event filled with good food, local stories, and shared purpose.

Whether you’re a longtime member or new to the KulshanCLT community, we welcome you to be part of this special evening.

Come and learn about the Lighthouse Mission’s new facility in-person by joining us for a tour! The new shelter incorporates design elements informed by the latest best practices and takes a more therapeutic approach to shelter, services and community collaboration than ever before. A true gem in our community, this facility opened in September 2024 and is already being used to effectively empower life transformation and support community members experiencing homelessness. This tour is a unique opportunity to see the facility in action and ask questions along the way.

HomesNOW started in 2017 with the goal of ending homelessness one person at a time, since 2019 we have been managing tiny home villages. Formerly Unity Village in Fairhaven and Swift Haven in the Puget Neighborhood. We now manage North Haven, located at 3300 Northwest Ave. Our model has no paid staff and the village is managed by the people who live there.

Enjoy a tour of the village as well as a Q&A.

Learn firsthand how Habitat for Humanity balances building affordably with building climate resilient homes at this Happy Hour. The presentation and tour will include techniques Habitat uses to build high thermal efficiency, as well as changes we are making to better prepare our homes for intensified weather patterns as a result of climate change.   Presentation will include a tour of the first four units at our Mateo Meadows Community in downtown Everson.

Enjoy beverages and charcuterie and connect with Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County – a locally governed affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. We are a non-profit organization committed to eliminating substandard housing through the building of safe, decent, affordable homes with our partner families.

Are you a homeowner with a spare bedroom? Curious about how home sharing could work for you? Join the City of Bellingham for an informative session on how this innovative housing option can benefit both hosts and renters—while making the most of existing space in our community.
The City of Bellingham is partnering with Nesterly, a home sharing service designed to support people who want to share housing costs and increase social connections. Learn about the benefits of home sharing, hear real-life experiences, and get an in-depth look at the Nesterly’s platform. City staff will explain why this model provides an easier way to access more housing options and increase financial independence. The event will also provide a step-by-step walkthrough of the sign-up and listing creation process and leave plenty of time for Q&A and mingling.
Let’s make the most of our homes—together!

This panel discussion will provide a comprehensive overview of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Bellingham, covering key aspects of permitting, construction, rental, and sale, with time for questions from the audience.  City of Bellingham Planning Director Blake Lyon will talk about rental rules.  State Representative Alex Ramel will talk about condo legislation.  Noted local designer Sharron Maris will talk about ADU design.  City of Bellingham Development Services Manager Kurt Nabbefeld will talk about ADU permitting.  CAZ Construction’s owner, Dan Dunne, will talk about the building process.  

The event is designed for homeowners, housing advocates, policymakers, and community members interested in the role of ADUs in expanding housing options in Bellingham.  It will be held in the mezzanine of Stemma West, at 500 Carolina St in Bellingham.  Access to the event space is up the stairs near the main entrance.
CAZ Construction specializes in residential construction – from full design‑and‑build projects to remodels and repairs. Since 2010, we’ve been helping homeowners bring their ideas to life through thoughtful planning, skilled craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to doing the job right. As a proud local, client‑focused company, we take the time to listen, understand your needs, and craft solutions tailored to your home, your budget, and your vision. For more information, visit www.cazconstruction.com

If you have read this far, congratulations!  You deserve a chance to win $500. If you register, and attend this event, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $500 gift certificate to CAZ Construction and Favinger Plumbing for your next project.

Here are the rules:

1. Eligibility
Must be 18+ years old to enter.
Open to residents of Washington State.
Employees, officers, and immediate family members of CAZ Construction are not eligible.

2. How to Enter
No purchase, payment, or donation is necessary to enter.
Enter by submitting the event registration form for the 2025 Housing Week CAZ ADU event at https://givebutter.com/8vvNPz
One free ticket/entry per person.
Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday October 15th (the day before the event).

3. Prize
One winner will receive a $500 gift card for CAZ Construction.
Prize is non-transferable, no cash substitute.

4. Winner Selection
Winner will be chosen at random at the ADU event on Thursday October 16th.
Winner must be present to win.
Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.

5. Notification
Winner will be notified in person at the event and will be given a certificate.
If winner is not present, another winner may be selected.

6. Use of Name/Image
By accepting the prize, winner agrees that their name (and photo, if applicable) may be used in promotional materials.

7. Sponsor
Drawing is sponsored by CAZ Construction, 2201 Humboldt St Bellingham WA, ph: 360-389-6627.

Explore The Way Station’s Health & Hygiene Center, meet frontline and support staff who bring showers, laundry, and walk-in health services, to those who need them and learn about our first year of operations.

The Way Station Health & Hygiene Center offers showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and walk-in health services for people experiencing homelessness. Unity Care NW manages the on-site medical and behavioral health care, including support for substance use. Medical respite beds are managed by Opportunity Council in partnership with PeaceHealth and are available by referral for individuals discharged from the hospital who need a safe, supportive place to heal.

This presentation will offer an overview of Whatcom County Health and Community Service’s homeless housing plan that is currently being drafted, with final adoption expected in November. Community members will have the opportunity to learn about the plans objectives and strategies aimed at reducing homelessness and it’s associated harms in Whatcom County.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services serves Whatcom County by advancing equity and partnering with our community to: (1) promote health through policy and system improvement; (2) prevent disease and injury; (3) provide accurate and reliable health communication, information and data; (4) prepare for and respond to emergencies; and (5) preserve a health environment where everyone can thrive.

Janie Oliphant is a Housing Program Specialist in the Community Health and Human Services Division of Whatcom County Health and Community Services. Prior to her current role, Janie worked as Technical Assistance provider for Public Housing Authorities across the country. Janie’s background also includes various roles in direct practice and research on housing and financial security. Janie earned bachelor’s degrees Social Work, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Portland and a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

What is the overall picture of existing senior housing in our community? What are the housing gaps and opportunities for older adults, a steadily growing portion of our population? This session will present highlights from the recently updated Housing for Older Adults in Whatcom County assessment, completed by Aging Well Whatcom, along with a panel discussion regarding progress, ongoing gaps, and emerging opportunities.

Aging Well Whatcom, a Chuckanut Health Foundation initiative, aims to make Whatcom County a place with the culture, physical infrastructure, social supports, and services for all of us to age well. Housing is one of the six focus areas of the Aging Well community blueprint, which outlines strategies for building a community that better supports older adults and aging.