KIRO NEWSRADIO

Report: Whatcom County deaths of unhoused people on pace for record amount

Jul 15, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:49 pm

Photo: Whatcom County homeless deaths are increasing, according to a report from the Opportunity Co...

Whatcom County homeless deaths are increasing, according to a report from the Opportunity Council. (Photo: Robert Ashworth via Flickr Creative Commons)

(Photo: Robert Ashworth via Flickr Creative Commons)

More people are dying on the streets of Whatcom County, according to a new report. Opportunity Council, a non-profit that works closely with the unhoused, said so far there have been 56 documented deaths this year. The number is on pace for a record amount of deaths among people living on the street in the county.

Executive Director Greg Winter fears that number could double and he expects more than 100 deaths of people living on the street by the end of the year.

“I hear these numbers are just going to continue to go up,” Winter told KIRO Newsradio on Monday. “We just need to redouble our efforts.”

Other counties: King County homelessness surges 23% as state releases plan to tackle housing

Winter blamed a combination of a rising cost of living, a strained mental health system and access to deadly street drugs.

“Housing is really the foundation for help,” he said.

Homeless deaths across the nation increased 24% from 2018 to 2020, according to the Opportunity Council’s data.

Winter hopes the report will motivate communities to help people in need.

Don’t be that person: State troopers fine ferry line cutters $145

The Opportunity Council, in partnership with the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County, posted a brochure with information to connect with resources. The Homeless Outreach Team is open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and can be reached at 360-312-3717.

“The Homeless Outreach Team supports those experiencing homelessness and the broader community they interact with,” stated the brochure. “This includes providing response and technical assistance to businesses.”

The Bellingham Police Department’s non-emergency line is 360-676-6911. To contact the Community Paramedic Program, call 360-739-5413.

Other Whatcom County resources are Lighthouse Mission Ministries at 360-733-5120, Volunteers of America Mental Health Crisis Line at 800-584-3578, the Bellingham Food Bank at 360-676-0392, Adult Protective Services at 877-734-6277 and Hope House for basic needs at 360-671-8702. Hope House is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

More MyNorthwest news

KIRO Newsradio

Bellevue police investigators want to find the driver of this SUV, who was involved in a hit-and-ru...

Tom Brock

Bellevue police seeking hit-and-run driver involved in serious accident

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver in a crash that severely injured a woman.

18 hours ago

Photo: Seattle City Council member Cathy Moore announced Friday her plan to introduce a similar tax...

Matt Markovich

Seattle council member jumps on capital gains bandwagon, proposes one for city residents

Just days after Washington voters rejected a measure to repeal the statewide capital gains tax, Seattle City Council member Cathy Moore announced Friday her plan to introduce a similar tax for Seattle residents.

3 days ago

Photo: Sound Transit's 1 Line will undergo scheduled maintenance over the weekend closing five stat...

Nate Connors

Weekend traffic: Closures scheduled for Sound Transit’s 1 Line

Sound Transit's 1 Line will undergo scheduled maintenance over the weekend closing five stations between Capitol Hill and SODO.

3 days ago

Racist text...

Bill Kaczaraba

Gee Scott: Racist texts show ‘large population’ feels African Americans should go back to picking cotton

Black and Hispanic Americans, including women and children as young as middle school, have received racist text messages.

3 days ago

Image: Democratic U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez can be seen in a recent photo....

Matt Markovich

Gluesenkamp Perez poised for victory in rematch with Kent in 3rd District

Incumbent Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez appears close to a victory in a rematch with Republican Joe Kent in Washington's 3rd District.

3 days ago

Image: The Washington State Capitol building is seen on the first day of the legislative session in...

Matt Markovich

Democrats fall short of supermajority in state legislature but are set to flip GOP seats

Democrats in Washington who were hoping to gain a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature most likely won't get their wish.

3 days ago

Report: Whatcom County deaths of unhoused people on pace for record amount