Stable Housing

Opportunity Council and the Whatcom Homeless Service Center manage referrals to multiple housing programs, including short-term, transitional, and permanent housing programs. Referrals are made to programs operated by Opportunity Council/Whatcom Homeless Service Center, as well as to programs operated by our many housing partners.

Eligibility Criteria:

• To qualify, households must reside in Whatcom County, and be experiencing unsheltered homelessness, i.e.: living at an emergency shelter, outside, in a vehicle, or other place not meant for habitation; OR fleeing domestic violence.*
  *Additional programs available for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, and seniors age 60+ who are at imminent risk of homelessness (i.e. temporarily staying with friends/family, short-term motel stay, etc.)
• Households must also meet income guidelines based on the area median income (AMI)
  • Current standard income guidelines (criteria for most households)
  • Current income guidelines for households fleeing domestic violence
  • Current income guidelines for households with a member who is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Current income guidelines for households with a member who is age 60+ (subject to program availability)

Intake: Interested households can contact the CRC for a housing eligibility screening. If determined eligible, CRC staff will schedule a Housing Pool intake, which allows households to apply for multiple programs through a single application.

Wait Time: The Housing Pool is not a waitlist, and staff are unable to predict wait times as housing openings are filled according to program criteria, length of homelessness, and most emergent need.

Next Steps: Once an intake has been completed, households are required to check-in monthly to remain active in the Housing Pool: email checkin@whatcomhsc.org or call 360-734-5121 ext. 5, then ext. 3 to leave a status update.

While waiting for a Housing Pool referral, households can work on increasing income, and finding affordable housing on their own. If securing housing independently is a possibility, it can often be a faster route to stable housing than the Housing Pool, and deposit assistance may be available to help.

Deposit Assistance: Households who are eligible for the Housing Pool may be able to receive assistance paying a security deposit (subject to funding availability). More information here

Other Affordable Housing Options: Information on low-income housing and support for your housing search can be found here