ADU’s are one opportunity for homeowners to provide more affordable housing within our existing neighborhoods. Join this workshop to learn everything you need to know about building an ADU from start to finish including the design, permit process, homeowner do’s & don’ts, and the upfront costs needed to start your ADU project off right!

What factors determine whether or not a housing project is feasible? How are these factors addressed when building affordable housing? Why is housing getting more expensive? Come learn the basics of a pro forma and why affordable housing can be a challenge.

At this event, housing system professionals will speak about the programs and tools that are used to prevent and respond to homelessness in Whatcom County. They’ll explain how the housing and rental markets impact their ability to re-house individuals and families, and where we see the most pressing needs. Attendees will learn about local programs that develop affordable housing, prevent people from becoming homeless, and move people from the streets into warm homes, as well as those programs’ limitations. There will be opportunities for questions about homelessness in Whatcom County and about our community’s response.

The session will provide an overview of inclusionary zoning and a panel discussion on the pitfalls, lessons learned, and successes from other communities in the Puget Sound region.

You’re invited to learn how the Whatcom region will use cooperative methods to create high-quality, owner-occupied, permanently affordable homes. Limited equity housing cooperatives remain affordable permanently for people from a wide range of incomes, both above and below the median income. Three special guests will share how the owner/shareholders of Home Co-ops design, build, occupy, and manage groups of owner-occupied homes in walkable neighborhoods.

This presentation will reinvigorate support of housing density from a climate impact perspective. What does recent data teach us about the value of denser housing compared to the impacts of more traditional housing models?

Join the Whatcom Housing Alliance in this Housing Week wrap-up event where we will come together with our membership, key community stakeholders, and the general public to celebrate local housing successes.

We are thrilled to have Zack Giffin, host of the popular Netflix series Tiny House Nation, join us as the keynote speaker for this event where he will discuss the importance of legalizing tiny homes in Whatcom County and across the US.

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 22nd, 2021 to join Habitat for Humanity and a community of Whatcom women for a special build day during Whatcom Housing week. No experience is necessary to join us; just a willingness to work hard, have a blast, and build permanent and affordable homes for local families in need.