Whatcom Housing Alliance Presents Whatcom Housing Week: Addressing the Housing Crisis Together

The Whatcom Housing Alliance is proud to announce the 7th Annual Whatcom Housing Week, a week-long event dedicated to addressing the critical housing challenges facing our community. This event will take place October 17-21, 2023, and will feature a diverse range of activities and discussions aimed at raising awareness, fostering dialogue, and promoting solutions to the housing crisis in Whatcom County.

As the housing crisis continues to escalate, it is essential for all stakeholders, including government agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and the community at large, to come together to find innovative and sustainable solutions. Whatcom Housing Week seeks to create a platform for collaboration and education, empowering individuals and organizations to make a positive impact on the housing situation in our region.

Keynote speaker Stefan Pellegrini, Principal at Opticos Design will be presenting on October 18th at Hotel Leo. In 2010, Opticos coined the term "Missing Middle Housing" and they are the undisputed experts on the subject. Based out of Berkeley, CA, Opticos provides urban design, planning, and architecture services to the private and public sectors and addresses questions such as: How do we build walkable communities that support social, mental, and physical health while improving resiliency and promoting equity? How do we foster informed community conversation about local development and provide choice, attainability, and affordability in the housing market? How do we help cities evolve, celebrating the existing community and avoiding unwanted gentrification? How do we encourage walkable communities in a car-centered culture? 

Other Key event highlights include:

1. Parking Reform and Affordability: Join experts, policymakers, and advocates as they discuss and explore how Bellingham can reform parking policies to support community goals including affordability, efficient transportation, and compact development.

2. ADU Design Competition Awards Ceremony: The Whatcom Housing Alliance will be announcing the winners of the Jury Prize and People’s Choice Awards for the ADU Design Competition. Submissions are currently being accepted for the competition until October 3, 2023 and the public is invited to vote October 9-16. Everyone is invited to the celebration at Hotel Leo for an awards ceremony.

3. Preserving Manufactured Housing Communities: Resident Owned Communities Northwest is a program that has helped 23 manufactured home communities within Washington State become resident-owned communities. This session highlights the collaboration between the City of Bellingham and ROC Northwest.

4. Eviction and Your Options: Join the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center for an educational session about the eviction process, alternatives, and options. This session is for tenants, landlords, and any interested community members.

5. An Overview of Housing Subsidies in Whatcom County: Attend the panel discussion at Heart House at Lydia Place for an engaging discussion on the topic of housing subsidies in Whatcom County. Gain valuable insight and engage with the panel of experts from the Opportunity Council, Bellingham Housing Authority, and Lydia Place.

Whatcom Housing Week is open to all community members, including residents, organizations, and businesses interested in addressing the housing crisis. Whether you are directly affected by housing challenges or passionate about making a difference, this event offers something for everyone.

For more information about Whatcom Housing Week, including the full schedule of events, speakers, and registration details, visit whatcomhousingweek.org.

Join us during Whatcom Housing Week as we work together to create a stronger, more equitable housing future for Whatcom County. Together, we can make a difference!

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Event Hashtag

#WhatcomHousingWeek

The Whatcom Housing Alliance (WHA) is a broad coalition of organizations, including proponents of public health, economic development agencies, for-profit and non-profit housing developers, advocates of smart growth, private business owners, investors, and others united with the goal of constructing an affordable, healthy, equitable, thriving, and inclusive community. WHA provides community education, technical assistance, and advocacy to advance diverse and affordable housing choices in all neighborhoods