Lighthouse Mission Ministries Moving Base Camp after City Council OKs Lease
June 18, 2020
Lighthouse Mission Ministries will continue to shelter people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic after the Bellingham City Council approved Tuesday, June 16 a lease at a new downtown location.
The Lighthouse Mission will move its Base Camp, formerly known as Drop-In Center, to the former Bellingham Public Market at 1530 Cornwall Ave. by July 15. After three months at Bellingham High School, the Base Camp needs to move again as the high school prepares to reopen for students. Under the direction of the Whatcom County Health Department due to the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that Base Camp will not be able to return to its original location for the foreseeable future, according to the Lighthouse Mission.
Nearly 600 unique individuals have come to Base Camp needing a safe place to sleep since the pandemic began, with 160-170 people being housed each night. If Base Camp were to return to 1013 W. Holly St., over 110 people would be turned away each night in order to comply with CDC guidelines for homeless shelters. The Lighthouse Mission’s temporary Base Camp needs enough space for all who are seeking shelter and space for guests to practice social distancing.
Hans Erchinger-Davis, Executive Director of the Lighthouse Mission, in cooperation with Whatcom Unified Command, identified multiple potential temporary site locations and conducted a feasibility study on each to narrow the choices. This 25,106-square-foot space is currently empty and was previously leased by Terra Organica. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are partnering with Lighthouse Mission to prepare the building to house people.
“We acknowledge the impact this will have on the surrounding neighborhood. We are working hard to be good neighbors. I am so grateful for our Bellingham and Whatcom County community - all of you who have such high care and concern for our neighbors who are homeless,” Erchinger-Davis said.
The public market building is available for up to 4 years which will give the Lighthouse Mission enough time to construct a new, permanent location in Old Town, he added.
All of Base Camp’s usual services will continue at this new temporary location, including free breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 24/7 shelter, showers, restrooms, laundry services, support from staff and volunteers, resource referrals, and prayer and Bible studies.
“We’re grateful for the support of our community!” Erchinger-Davis said. “You enable us to care for our most vulnerable neighbors and protect our broader community during this pandemic.”
Anyone who needs a place to stay or a meal is welcome at Base Camp, he added. By maintaining social distancing and health practices, this move benefits our entire community. When one population is protected and cared for, especially a vulnerable one like unhoused neighbors, it benefits the whole.
Erchinger-Davis shared, “It is in the best interest of our unhoused neighbors and Whatcom County in general for there to be another temporary location in place to shelter and care for these vulnerable neighbors. We don’t want to have to turn anyone away because of capacity restraints.”
At the new temporary Base Camp location, there is space for up to 200 adults to get a good night’s rest and to spend the day.
This facility has a dedicated nighttime sleeping space and a community room for day use and eating meals. The Lighthouse Mission will rent shower and laundry facilities and a large outdoor patio space will be nicely fenced so people can spend time outdoors on the property.
The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County have committed funds toward the cost to modify the facility and get the building ready to serve people. They will each reimburse Lighthouse Mission Ministries for those costs. The Mission will continue to rely on donations from individual donors to cover the expenses of Base Camp’s daily operation. Expenses are expected to increase at this new temporary facility to about $500,000 a year.
The Lighthouse Mission and its guests are incredibly grateful to Bellingham School District for partnering with them for the past months and housing people who are homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic, Erchinger-Davis said. A guest of Base Camp at Bellingham High School said, “Thank you for opening up Bellingham High School for all of us at the Drop-In Center.”
There are no religious requirements for guests to receive any services offered at Base Camp. Lighthouse Mission maintains its identity and values as a Christian organization with its mission of healing homelessness through Christ’s power and love.
Erchinger-Davis said, “We are excited to continue the life-saving gospel work of caring for our friends and neighbors who are homeless at this new temporary location for Base Camp.”
Lighthouse Mission Ministries has been helping people who are homeless since 1923. It serves more than 300 hot meals daily and provides shelter for up to 250 men, women and children each day. To make a donation or learn more about its services, call (360) 733-5120, or visit www.thelighthousemission.org.
The Lighthouse Mission will move its Base Camp, formerly known as Drop-In Center, to the former Bellingham Public Market at 1530 Cornwall Ave. by July 15. After three months at Bellingham High School, the Base Camp needs to move again as the high school prepares to reopen for students. Under the direction of the Whatcom County Health Department due to the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that Base Camp will not be able to return to its original location for the foreseeable future, according to the Lighthouse Mission.
Nearly 600 unique individuals have come to Base Camp needing a safe place to sleep since the pandemic began, with 160-170 people being housed each night. If Base Camp were to return to 1013 W. Holly St., over 110 people would be turned away each night in order to comply with CDC guidelines for homeless shelters. The Lighthouse Mission’s temporary Base Camp needs enough space for all who are seeking shelter and space for guests to practice social distancing.
Hans Erchinger-Davis, Executive Director of the Lighthouse Mission, in cooperation with Whatcom Unified Command, identified multiple potential temporary site locations and conducted a feasibility study on each to narrow the choices. This 25,106-square-foot space is currently empty and was previously leased by Terra Organica. The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County are partnering with Lighthouse Mission to prepare the building to house people.
“We acknowledge the impact this will have on the surrounding neighborhood. We are working hard to be good neighbors. I am so grateful for our Bellingham and Whatcom County community - all of you who have such high care and concern for our neighbors who are homeless,” Erchinger-Davis said.
The public market building is available for up to 4 years which will give the Lighthouse Mission enough time to construct a new, permanent location in Old Town, he added.
All of Base Camp’s usual services will continue at this new temporary location, including free breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 24/7 shelter, showers, restrooms, laundry services, support from staff and volunteers, resource referrals, and prayer and Bible studies.
“We’re grateful for the support of our community!” Erchinger-Davis said. “You enable us to care for our most vulnerable neighbors and protect our broader community during this pandemic.”
Anyone who needs a place to stay or a meal is welcome at Base Camp, he added. By maintaining social distancing and health practices, this move benefits our entire community. When one population is protected and cared for, especially a vulnerable one like unhoused neighbors, it benefits the whole.
Erchinger-Davis shared, “It is in the best interest of our unhoused neighbors and Whatcom County in general for there to be another temporary location in place to shelter and care for these vulnerable neighbors. We don’t want to have to turn anyone away because of capacity restraints.”
At the new temporary Base Camp location, there is space for up to 200 adults to get a good night’s rest and to spend the day.
This facility has a dedicated nighttime sleeping space and a community room for day use and eating meals. The Lighthouse Mission will rent shower and laundry facilities and a large outdoor patio space will be nicely fenced so people can spend time outdoors on the property.
The City of Bellingham and Whatcom County have committed funds toward the cost to modify the facility and get the building ready to serve people. They will each reimburse Lighthouse Mission Ministries for those costs. The Mission will continue to rely on donations from individual donors to cover the expenses of Base Camp’s daily operation. Expenses are expected to increase at this new temporary facility to about $500,000 a year.
The Lighthouse Mission and its guests are incredibly grateful to Bellingham School District for partnering with them for the past months and housing people who are homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic, Erchinger-Davis said. A guest of Base Camp at Bellingham High School said, “Thank you for opening up Bellingham High School for all of us at the Drop-In Center.”
There are no religious requirements for guests to receive any services offered at Base Camp. Lighthouse Mission maintains its identity and values as a Christian organization with its mission of healing homelessness through Christ’s power and love.
Erchinger-Davis said, “We are excited to continue the life-saving gospel work of caring for our friends and neighbors who are homeless at this new temporary location for Base Camp.”
Lighthouse Mission Ministries has been helping people who are homeless since 1923. It serves more than 300 hot meals daily and provides shelter for up to 250 men, women and children each day. To make a donation or learn more about its services, call (360) 733-5120, or visit www.thelighthousemission.org.
