HomesNOW! Not Later is a group of volunteers working together to provide homes and shelter for the homeless in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Click here to check out our Events.
A Call to Action
HomesNOW! has a plan that is very simple. The plan is just to go from Point A to Point B. Build tiny homes and start putting people in them right away. What we need is to raise money for the first 2 homes. We need about $5000, not much when you consider that this is going to take two people off the streets and reduce the number of homeless in Whatcom County.
IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A REALITY, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO HELP. We are a 501c3 so your donations are tax deductible. GoFundMe Link To Donate: |
Latest Videos
HomesNOW! – News Feed
Addressing Areas of Concern - HomesNOW - 07-11-2018
Hey everyone. I just wanted to go over a couple of recent developments for HomesNOW.
The good news is that we have continued to make traction with the county. The interim ordinance has been modified to allow 1 year for tiny homes (rather than 180 days) with extensions, and 180 days for tents (rather than 90 days previously).
HomesNOW is also looking at 2 or 3 pieces of land that could potentially work for a first site for the pilot project. In my last update I showed pictures of a site that looked really good on Northwest Avenue (just outside the city limits of Bellingham). But since it's about a mile or 2 from the soccer fields, I guess the soccer moms are up in arms and totally against it. But another site at Marine Drive Park was proposed. We'll keep working at it.
On another subject, we had a former volunteer Amy Couglin who helped us with the garden of food that we grew outside our office on Dupont Street (helped to grow the plants). She did a good job on that. She also volunteered at our homeless summits. However we ran into a dispute with her over a few things.
The first issue was that when Jim was wanting to get the Shower Truck painted, he wanted it painted soon, like within a week or 2. Amy C. suggested that she had somebody who could paint it, but it would take a month or 2. Jim didn't want to wait and went with his first choice. Amy then left the organization and stopped volunteering for a few weeks because she was upset about this. When she came back a few weeks later we welcomed her with open arms. Later another dispute popped up in which Amy said that she would no longer work with us unless we got rid of one of our other volunteers (JC). We told Amy that we're not getting rid of any of our volunteers. So she left again and now she's been showing up at every county council meeting, telling the council members that she's deeply concerned about how HomesNOW is run and that she questions whether our organization is following the law.
Here are some of her statements from the last council meeting.
1. Safety measures in place
4. Conflict resolution and crisis de-escalation
In terms of safety measures we don't have security or police or anything like that. It hasn't been necessary because every event has been safe and welcoming. There was one summit where one homeless person started yelling loudly because their sleeping bag was stolen, and Amy was the one who happened to be there. She was not able to de-escalate the situation and so she brought me over to the person to try and calm them down. The homeless man's sleeping bag was stolen, so I de-escalated the situation by getting him a sleeping bag. Amy asked how I de-escalated the situation thought at that point she needed de-escalation training. I said "I don't think de-escalation training is necessary, but just try to think of something you can do that would make the situation better or make it turn out happy and that will de-escalate it".
2. Code of conduct
We do have a code of conduct for any potential temporary encampment. It's also on our website under About > Code of Conduct/Camp rules.
homesnow.org/camp-rules/
3. Board of Directors clearly available on the website:
The board of directors is clearly listed on the website under About > Board of Directors.
homesnow.org/board-of-directors/
5. Accountability and transparency regarding insurance and financials
We are accountable and transparent with our insurance and financials. For insurance, you can find a copy of the insurance policy attached to our truck (which wasn't easy to get by the way, nobody wanted to insure us, but we finally found one). It is on our website under About > Shower Truck. Also before people get into the shower, we make them sign a waiver to avoid getting sued if somebody slips in the shower.
homesnow.org/camp-rules/
As for our accounting. On our website under About > Financials, you can see a distribution of funds (by year, and we've only been around 1 year), and you can download our bank statements as well and comb through them if you like. We have nothing to hide.
homesnow.org/financial/
6. Harassment, bullying, and inappropriate sexualized comments
This refers to a comment that JC made to Amy where Jim asked JC to reach out to Amy and JC said "hey girl!", but Amy did not identify as a girl and was offended. Then the situation escalated from there in both directions. We said we weren't going to get rid of one of our volunteers, and so Amy left. Now the other volunteer JC has left as well because the situation is stressful for her and taking a toll on her health.
7. Strict adherence to any applicable laws and ordinances
We have followed every law as well as working with local government officials to craft and change laws that make sense. It is an ongoing process that never stops and feels way too slow to us, but we're still working at it. If somebody wants to say that we're violating some kind of law, they should be specific about which laws we're violating so that we can address it quickly and efficiently.
If you see any laws that we're violating, please let us know because we're not aware of any.
8. Also Jim is resigning as the President of HomesNOW effective August 31st 2018. He wants to focus only on the housing part and not any of the other parts of managing a non-profit.
So suffice it to say it's been a crappy week for me, but we'll get through it. We just have to step back and plan our next strategy to be successful. Thank you to all our supporters, this isn't about any one volunteer. I can understand why it would stress people out. This is about helping those in need who need our help in our community.
People often forget that the United States has a class-based caste system. So if you are wealthy, people fawn all over you and call you successful, but if you're homeless or poor, it's seen as a character flaw or a moral failing....Which leads to prejudice and pre-judgement of people before even getting to know them. This is what leads to stereotypes and many people being against helping homeless people simply on the basis that they are homeless. There are many other countries where homelessness is not as big of a problem as it is here. Basically it comes down to whether you value people or not and whether you're trying to make money on them or not.
HomesNow. Not Later. was live.
HomesNOW Progress Report - 07-09-2018
1. We found a potential site where we're asking for a lease from the county. It's at 5238 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Here is a map of the site....and pictures. HomesNOW plans to build tiny homes as well as tents. This is a transitional model, designed to move people out of homelessness. This site is just outside the city limits of Bellingham, so it falls outside the city's ordinance around Temporary tent encampments. Their ordinance also does not address tiny homes.
2. The County has been working with us productively in developing the ordinance to allow for tiny homes and temporary tent encampments. Since we were part of the process of crafting this, we of course did not get everything we want, but we found a decent compromise to where it wont prevent the goal from being achieved. Jim and I are speaking to the county tomorrow to discuss the proposal. I want to give a big shoutout to Tyler Byrd, Barbara Brenner, Satpal Sidhu for actively working with HomesNOW. Thanks to represenatives who are working with us, we were able to get amendments added to the ordinance, such as having more than 1 extension on the location, and longer extensions for Tiny Homes (90 days for tents, vs 1 year for Tiny Homes). Also in the original language of the ordinance, it had a hard cap on only one extension for either, and it's looking like it will get modified to allow for more than one extension (as many extensions as necessary until it's determined to not be a positive situation). We are not worried about that though.
Tyler Byrd has regularly met with us on short notice to discuss how to make it happen, we appreciate that immensely. We also want to thank Council Membner Barbara Brenner for coming out to see the work we've done so far on Lummi Nation and for being such an enthusiastic supporter of what we're doing. We also want to give a big shoutout as well to Satpal Sidhu, he was instrumental in making the connection between HomesNOW and the Sikh Temple who has generously provided meals at our monthly homeless summits. The next summit is at Maritime Heritage Park, on July 29th, on Sunday, at 1PM. We encourage you to be there and meet your neighbors who happen to be homeless.
3. In order to show the County that we've thought out how to manage a tiny home community or tent encampment, we had to come up with a set of rules. This packet had to be crafted within the limitations of State Law and standardized to other organizations which have done this before. Such as TC-5 in Seattle. In the description of the video we will have a link to the entire packet for review. Any feedback, positive or critical, is always welcome.
Also the shower Truck that HomesNOW has built in less th an a month has been a smashing success so far. We have provided over 50 showers since the truck has been in operation. I want to give a big shoutout to all the volunteers who helped build the shower truck, and those who volunteer on the days where showers happen to clean the showers after each shower and handle the paperwork for people who sign up for showers. Without you this wouldn't be working right now. Thank you so much!
We will let everyone know when we know more about the progress of our first proposed site for building tiny homes on unused county land. Thank You for your support!
Link to the official rules that HomesNOW has come up with for the County:
drive.google.com/file/d/1w3eaWNfNNuDaA_w5zsC_ikVhdNwGA3Ui/view
General Planning document, similar to business plan:
homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf
Bellingham Municipal Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/
Whatcom County Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/
Website:
HomesNOW.Org
Facebook:
facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater
YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/homesnowbham
GoFundMe (One Time Donations):
gofundme.com/2n7ur74f
PayPal (alternate method of One Time and Monthly Donations):
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW
Patreon (Monthly Donations):
www.patreon.com/homesnow/
Hashtags:
#HomesNOWNotLater
HomesNow. Not Later.in the video he shows the site
6 days agoHomesNow. Not Later.So exciting!
6 days agoHomesNow. Not Later.Very cool!
6 days ago · 1HomesNow. Not Later.cool glad to here this
6 days ago · 1www.lyndentribune.com/news/county-approves-tent-encampment-ordinance-helping-homeless-whatcom-cou...
County approves tent encampment ordinance helping homeless Whatcom County citizens
lyndentribune.com
Council votes 6-0 in favor of interim regulations
I went to the Drop-in-Center to give a person a backpack and was approached by a woman who had been in the hospital and left her belongings at the Mission for safe keeping. When she returned her belongings were donated to Good Will.
Then I was watching as a couple guys were disassembling an 8x8 canopy that was covering about 3 feet of sidewalk and the rest was over the fence mounted on the side of the embankment next to the DIC. I asked what happened since it wasn't affecting traffic but was keeping them out of the direct sun. They said the staff person said they had to take it down because some of it was on Mission property (the embankment).
I am asked why am I so critical of the Mission. This is why. These are not isolated stories as I have heard from others about their belongings getting thrown away. I had even donated large campaign signs last year so the sitting area to the left of the door could have some wind blocking structure. I was tied up quite nicely and had a cover to keep people out of the rain and the Mission staff took it down, cut them up and threw them away. They didn't even try and contact me, which was easy since the sign was my website.
Please ask the director why these instances keep happening when their mission is to help.
P.S. A man I have seen for at least 6 months picking up trash for the Mission as a volunteer job (I think volunteers get special privilages like being able to store belongings) but I hadn't seen him in a few weeks and finally did in front of a store downtown with his shoppng cart beautifully packed. I was told that the Mission said he could no longer keep his belongings inside which meant leaving them outside to be stolen. He was asked to leave because he couldn't keep his lifes belongings safe. He is now totally on the streets and is a disabled older veteran (pretty sure about the veteran part).
It is clear your goal is to help the homeless, and the Mission's goal is also to help the homeless, but using methods that are different than yours. I, too, wonder why all the negative comments? I applaud the hard work you have done and the assistance you have provided the homeless in our community. I've heard some great stories. (Your shower truck is an amazing feat!) I've also heard and seen great stories from the Mission. Are there not enough people with needs in our community that we have to fight over who gets to provide the care? I'm not trying to pick a fight; just wondering why the continual attacks, and instead, focusing upon helping and encouraging one another.
1 week ago · 1I have had several requests for the following:
Tents for couples (and their belongings and often a pet)
Shorts sizes 30, 32, 34 and 36.
Disposable razors
Men's sneakers size 12
Thanks and please share with people who may have items to donate.
Tents needed ASAP
In my travels, I have been asked for the following a number of times. Please donate or ask friends and neighbors to donate:
1. Tents for couples (some with a pet) and belongings so medium size (I currently have 4 requests).
1. Shorts sizes 30, 32, 34 and 36.
2. Men's sneakers size 12
3. Disposable razors
4. Mens underwear (all sizes)
PM me with donations and certainly please ask if you work some place that may want to donate. We give credit and promote businesses that care about everyone in the community.
HomesNow. Not Later.Next Shower Day is the 10th of July (Tuesday) from 4:00pm-7:00pm at 110 Flora Street in Bellingham. In front of the Baptist Church
3 weeks ago · 1HomesNow. Not Later. shared LoveStory's A married couple separates to stay alive.
LoveStory
"You do what you can to survive." Linda and Larry Drain got married in 1981, but when Linda's eligibility under Medicaid was threatened, they were forced to either separate or lose her benefits. Now they live 40 minutes away from each other in low-income housing.
HomesNow. Not Later.This happens for many things including requiring assisted living or nursing home care if the couple has any savings so the healthy spouse doesn't spend every penny they have on care leaving the other spouse broke for their future. Health care is a human right
3 weeks ago · 1If anyone wants to help do donation collections; this is the list of what we could use for the next monthly Summit (end of July).
I have thought of a few ways to collect donations that may be easier or more fun Unifor some interested:
* Pick a size and find a few people around that size and see if you can get a few items in that size (ie: shorts, shirts, pants, etc).
* Ask a store that gets a lot of foot traffic to put a donation bin in their establishment and ask for 1 or 2 items specifically (ie: T-shirts and shorts). I can get you signs for a bin.
* Collect anything you can that is on the list.
* Have a clothing or supply drive at your place of work
Items needed (by order of what is needed most)
Sleeping bags
Backpacks
Tents
Unisex Jeans: Sizes 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 (waist size)
Womens Jeans: Sizes 7 and up
Summer socks: Both sexes. Ankle high and regular
Womens Shorts: All sizes
Mens Shorts: All sizes
T-shirts: All sizes unisex including xxl and xxxl (Charla, )
Womens Leggins: All sizes
Sun Hats: Ballcaps or floppy hats
Mens Sleeveless shirts: All sizes
Womens Sleeveless shirts: All sizes
New Underwear and socks: Both sexes all sizes (for those taking showers in our new Mobile Shower Truck)
Unisex Jeans: Sizes 36-46 (waist size)
Summer dresses: All sizes
Summer skirts: All sizes
Wide Tooth Combs
If you can help, please PM me (Amy Glasser) and if you can't, thanks for your support in all the other ways you help. As I get volunteers I will post their first name next to the item so you know if something already is being gotten. More than 1 person can do each item. THANKS again.
Whatcom County Passes Emergency Ordinance (With HomesNOW Tweaks)
HomesNOW goes to Whatcom County Council to speak out on a new ordinance involving temporary encampments and tiny homes. Over the course of a few months HomesNOW negotiated changes or tweaks to the ordinance to make it a better ordinance.
Some notable changes:
1. Unlike the City of Bellingham's ordinance, this ordinance took out the provision requiring a "Sight Obscuring" fence, the requirement for a fence is still in there, but doesn't have to be sight obscuring.
2. When it comes to collecting information of residents and those who visit and encampment, instead of having to call the police and report all the names, the police can request the list of names to do checks for Warrants or Sex offender registry.
3. When it comes to the provision about somebody needing to be on staff 24 hours a day for the encampment, it's been changed so that there needs to be a phone contact 24 hours a day. Meaning that somebody is always ON CALL, but not necessarily ON DUTY if not necessary.
4. The current version of the ordinance allows for a 90 day temporary encampment, with a hard cap on ONE 90 day extension. HomesNOW requested that instead of one extension, they could have the ability to perpetually extend. We have reassurances that this will make it into the final ordinance. They want to have separate language for specifically adding tiny homes to the ordinance and make that area able to be perpetually extended, while leaving it for 90 days on tents. We'll see what happens and if this pans out when the interim ordinance is passed (the next vote to make this ordinance more permanent).
General Planning document, similar to business plan:
homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf
Bellingham Municipal Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/
Whatcom County Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/
Website:
HomesNOW.Org
Facebook:
facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater
YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/homesnowbham
GoFundMe (One Time Donations):
gofundme.com/2n7ur74f
PayPal (alternate method of One Time and Monthly Donations):
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW
Patreon (Monthly Donations):
www.patreon.com/homesnow/
Hashtags:
#HomesNOWNotLater
Having lived in tents and coming from a tradition that not so many generations ago was mainly nomadic - I totally understand, from a health perspective, why you wouldn't want a =tent= encampment to be permanent year-round. Varmints (rats, etc) will settle in. Certain diseases can infect the soil. (Tiny homes are different) So here is an idea: have a dry season tent camp and a wet season tent camp. Get the language in the bill changed to "months" not days. Six months for each camp. If tent people know that "Summer Camp" runs May 1 -Oct 31 at one location and "Winter Camp" runs Nov 1 - April 30 at another location... it would put some certainty in their lives. It would allow for a thorough clean up of a campsite during the off season. It would be healthier for the land the camp is on. Just a thought.
4 weeks ago · 5HomesNOW goes to Bellingham City Council - 06-19-2018
Homes now and community supporters speak out at Bellingham City Council.
HomesNow. Not Later.Damn. The Mayor is just not listening. She says there would still be as many calls to police if the homeless we're not all in 1 place. She is just wrong. Small programs are the only way to go.
3 weeks ago · 2HomesNow. Not Later.Sorry. Fuck the Mayor. The Mission does not have a Shower Van. That is us, HomesNOW that built a shower truck in less than 6 weeks. Not the Mission.
3 weeks ago · 1
HomesNow. Not Later. shared their Showers Now Not Later!.
HomesNow. Not Later.
This video goes over the construction of the HomesNOW shower truck! General Planning document, similar to business plan: homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf Bellingham Municipal Code: www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/ Whatcom County Code: www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/ Website: HomesNOW.Org Facebook: facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ Twitter: twitter.com/homesnowbham GoFundMe (One Time Donations): gofundme.com/2n7ur74f PayPal (alternate method of One Time and Monthly Donations): www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW Patreon (Monthly Donations): www.patreon.com/homesnow/ Hashtags: #HomesNOWNotLater
Homelessness in Bellingham WA
Individuals who previously experienced homelessness and people experiencing homelessness share their opinions about the services available to them and difficulties associated with the state of homelessness in Whatcom County.
Authorities on the topic explain how it will take a community to solve this complex issue and correct the public’s perception. Western Washington University students Dan Thomas and Nic Ulmer interviewed numerous individuals from all walks of life to frame the topic of homelessness in a new and meaningful way.
General Planning document, similar to business plan:
homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf
Bellingham Municipal Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/
Whatcom County Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/
Website:
HomesNOW.Org
Facebook:
facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater
YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/homesnowbham
GoFundMe (One Time Donations):
gofundme.com/2n7ur74f
PayPal (alternate method of One Time and Monthly Donations):
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW
Patreon (Monthly Donations):
www.patreon.com/homesnow/
Hashtags:
#HomesNOWNotLater
This sounds good/reasonable, but it leaves out an important component that can make a HUGE difference in people's perception of the homeless challenge...The problem of folks who have experienced homelessness are not educated/informed about what it takes to be a 'good' renter...When they go into someone's home/investment and treat it carelessly/disrespectfully and create a toxic environment due to thinking it is/should be acceptable to do/live whatever way they want, regardless of the cost to the owner. If those who want to receive shelter would have to take a short informative class(?) in how to be a respectful renter, and receive a certificate to show a homeowner that they have made an effort to enter into a responsible relationship, I'd think this could affect the challenge in a positive way! Would the Opportunity Council, or The Lighthouse Mission, or Interfaith Coalition, (any group of agencies) work together on this? As a homeowner with space to share, I have taken in a homeless 'family', a woman from the HEN program in the past, and have compassion for those needing shelter, but they ended up costing me more than they paid, in damages and mental aggravation, so I am NOT willing/able to jeopardize my own home/property by sharing with anyone who isn't prepared/willing to realize they need to be part of supporting the shelter we share and rely on!!! For me, this is the 'elephant-in-the-room' that NO ONE seems aware of OR willing to address, but I don't foresee much changing in this situation UNTIL it is dealt with!!! Thanks for listening/considering a homeowner's viewpoint/experience~
4 weeks ago · 3Showers Now Not Later!
This video goes over the construction of the HomesNOW shower truck!
General Planning document, similar to business plan:
homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf
Bellingham Municipal Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/
Whatcom County Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/
Website:
HomesNOW.Org
Facebook:
facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater
YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/homesnowbham
GoFundMe (One Time Donations):
gofundme.com/2n7ur74f
PayPal (alternate method of One Time and Monthly Donations):
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW
Patreon (Monthly Donations):
www.patreon.com/homesnow/
Hashtags:
#HomesNOWNotLater
HRAP looked into laws in 64 Washington cities and found 121 ordinances that prohibit or restrict begging. Violating many of these ordinances can saddle a person with a misdemeanor, forcing poor and disadvantaged people into the criminal justice system.
Students requested public records from 11 cities to see how the laws were being enforced.
Only Marysville and Lakewood provided evidence showing that they had cited people for violating begging laws in the past five years. In Lakewood, all people found guilty received 90-day jail sentences. Sixty percent of people found guilty for begging in restricted areas also received a fine ranging from $300 to $500.
Anti-begging ordinances come in various styles that HRAP says may violate the First Amendment because they restrict content-based speech. Others outlaw “aggressive” begging, but fail to define “aggressive,” leaving that to the subjective interpretation of the complainant.
Rankin and her team recognize that there is still more work to do, and that in many cases the DIY guides are jumping off points that raise more questions that need to be answered.
realchangenews.org/2018/05/09/homeless-rights-advocacy-project-releases-six-studies-solutions-hom...
Homeless Rights Advocacy Project releases six studies on solutions to homelessness | Real Change
realchangenews.org
Seattle University’s Homeless Rights Advocacy Project (HRAP) dropped a series of reports that aim to provide advocates, homeless people and policymakers with a suite of tools and legal thinking around solutions to the region’s homelessness crisis.
HomesNow. Not Later. shared Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project's photo.
Older article from 2016 worth repeating!
COVER STORY: "We have a very specific, deep-rooted fear and disgust that we’ve reserved for poverty and that I believe is frequently codified in our laws and policies." - Sara Rankin, an associate professor at Seattle University. She founded the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project (HRAP), a group that looks into the myriad ways in which society violates the rights of homeless and low-income people. Read her Q&A in this week's issue. Seattle University
Not to be a downer, but we have got to do better... Seattle... 🙁
Homeless man probably crushed to death after sleeping in recycling container
seattletimes.com
Jay F. Parker, 54, a carpenter from New Hampshire, was found among refuse in Cascade Recycling Center, in the area where incoming material is sorted.
HomesNow. Not Later. shared Upworthy Presents's The Tiny (Toilet) Home Project.
Upworthy Presents
Homelessness is a huge problem in the U.S., even among college students. This man may have invented a really good solution to the problem.
HomesNow. Not Later. shared a link.
Laziness Does Not Exist – E Price – Medium
medium.com
Psychological research is clear: when people procrastinate, there's usually a good reason
HomesNOW would like to thank Whatcom County Council member Barbara Brenner, as well as Whatcom County planning director Mark Personius for taking the time to come out and look at the tiny homes that HomesNOW has built on Lummi.
We have been discussing changes to the county's draft ordinance around temporary encampments.
For those who would like to read the ordinance, please let us know if you can think of something that needs to be improved or added to the ordinance. We need as many people as possible to be at the Whatcom County Council meeting on Tuesday June 19th. Here's a copy of the ordinance for your own reading:
www.dropbox.com/s/bt1i71elfq8uwtb/Whatcom%20County%20Draft%20Ordinance%20with%20proposed%20change...
It was also good to meet the new manager at Stepping Stones, Chris. Thanks for taking the time!
HomesNow. Not Later.Awesome!!
1 month agoHomesNow. Not Later.Dena Louise
1 month ago · 1HomesNow. Not Later.Ok guys this is an important one. The county is voting on an ordinance relating to temporary encampments. This includes tents as well as tiny homes. www.facebook.com/events/611825029190228/ HomesNOW has been working with the county on the ordinance to make it as effective as possible within the framework of the restrictions of Washington State law. Here is a link to the ordinance. If you have any suggestions for the ordinance, please let us know: www.dropbox.com/s/bt1i71elfq8uwtb/Whatcom%20County%20Draft%20Ordinance%20with%20proposed%20change... The date of the Whatcom County Council meeting for this is Tuesday the 19th at 6:30PM. Here is the link to the event. Please share it and make sure to be there, we need your support! Thank you! www.facebook.com/events/611825029190228/
1 month ago · 4
HomesNow. Not Later.When the Tiny Home Pilot Project begins, I would love to see these on the top of some roofs.
1 month agoLooking for Shower Truck Volunteers beginning this weekend! jc@homesnow.org
host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/one-year-in-madison-s-village-of-tiny-houses-wins/article_6d1a54c...
One year in, Madison's village of tiny houses wins over many neighborhood critics
host.madison.com
A review of housing assessments, home sales and police calls find no evidence so far of the dire consequences some opponents predicted.
Is anybody in the area of Brotha Dude's today? We have donation bin that needs to be picked up sometime. THANKS!
-Doug
HomesNow. Not Later.I will do this. Thanks. It was empty the last time I looked.
1 month agoWhatcom County Council on Homelessness and HomesNOW - 06-05-2018
Whatcom County Council discusses HomesNOW and Homelessness and prospects for finding land for Tiny Homes.
General Planning document, similar to business plan:
homesnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HomesNOW-General-Plan.pdf
Bellingham Municipal Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/Bellingham/
Whatcom County Code:
www.codepublishing.com/WA/WhatcomCounty/
Website:
HomesNOW.Org
Facebook:
facebook.com/HomesNowNotLater
YouTube Channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsy8m39etRS5lrQLQ17rpQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/homesnowbham
GoFundMe (One Time Donations):
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www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHU7QFJPDBDMW
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3LEqP08w0k
Whatcom County Council on Homelessness and HomesNOW - 06-05-2018
Whatcom County Council discusses HomesNOW and Homelessness and prospects for finding land for Tiny Homes. General Planning document, similar to business plan...
www.kgw.com/article/news/local/marion-county/aclu-video-of-oregon-deputy-punching-homeless-man-di...
ACLU: Video of Oregon deputy punching homeless man 'disturbing', 'violent'
kgw.com
A Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy can be seen repeatedly punching a local transient during an arrest Monday in Detroit, Oregon.
A few shout-outs to some wonderful stores that have helped HomesNOW
Value Village: There is no way we could have provided clothes and gear to hundreds of people who are experiencing homelessness with your thousands of dollars in donations. Thanks Danielle for making this happen.
Goodwill for a at least 65 pairs of new underwear for our new Shower Truck.
Salvation Army to Ellis for saving us a number of times when we were out of sleeping bags.
And to all the stores with donation bins: Herbal Legends, Brotha Dudes, 112 Ohio Street Workstudios, Velvet Rope Hair Salon and Northwest Behavioral.
And to all the other individual and groups who have provided those without homes the needed supplies to live; we thanks you so much.
Stay safe and laugh as much as you can every day.
With your help, I think we only lost 1 man, TJ to exposure. Still 1 too many but maybe next winter nobody will die.
Amy and everyone at HomesNOW.
This may be the hardest ask I have had in a long time. Today is the last day to go online to sign up and pay to be a Whatcom Democrat. I ask only because the old Dems want Richey as the new prosecutor and will plan to bring a lot of people vto to the endorsement meeting on the 11th of June. He is 2nd in command to our current prosecutor, the horrible McEachran.
On the other side is Erb who really wants to change the system for the homeless, poor and disabled.
Please consider going to whatcomdems site, hold your breath and do it. He is the only hope for changing the legal system in Whatcom county.
If you are a paid member, then come to the meeting. I am pretty sure it is on the 11th of June but I will update.
Please share privately with friends who care about the homeless. We don't want the other side to know we are rallying for Erb.
here's the link to pay dues and become a member: secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/whatcomdemsmembership
2 months ago · 1democrat? how about not ask anyone to join any politcal side.. and to just to support and vote the way u want. i disagree with this post 100%.. don't ever ask me to join a political side because that is the reason we cant get anything fixed.. we need people to unite under a reason not a politcal side.. if all we can see is we all republican or democrat then i wouldent really help imo.. this is about homeless.. what do u need us to do.. and no that does not require me to be a democrat.. that requires me to vote X or do X that u need.. u ask i shall deliver what i can.. but dont ask me to pick a side.
2 months ago · 2HomesNow. Not Later. shared We Need This's Plastic Waste Homes.
We Need This
Our plastic waste can be turned into homes that cost just $280.
"Despite his outrage he still ended up giving her a custodial sentence because he wanted to deter her from begging in Worcester after she contravened an existing anti-social behavior civil injunction against her. She had tried to argue CCTV would prove it was a case of mistaken identity and she had only been prosecuted because a police officer had a grudge against her."
Read more: metro.co.uk/2018/05/25/woman-jailed-six-months-caught-begging-50p-7577918/
Woman jailed for six months after being caught begging for 50p
metro.co.uk
The woman defended herself in court despite not being able to read or write.
When I left Seattle, in early 1980, the rooming house was still a thing in the Denny Regrade and even the Queen Anne Hill areas. The speculators had just started to move in and most people laughed at the horridly expensive shoe boxes they were offering. The cities dropped the ball in the 1980s. The vibrancy and stability of the city lay in having sufficient affordable housing in =every= price point, not just the super high end, high tax market. It truly is a case of TANSTAAFL - if you do away with affordable housing, you commit to having to pay for homelessness (either to affirmatively solve the problem or, negatively, to move it on to somewhere else).
2 months ago · 1
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HomesNOW! MOBILE SHOWER TRUCK REVEAL
timeanddate.com
Countdown to May 19, 2018 1:00 pm. Showing days, hours, minutes and seconds ticking down to 0
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/12/san-francisco-homeless-proposition-q-tech-investors
Wealthy San Francisco tech investors bankroll bid to ban homeless camps
theguardian.com
The proposed law would ban tent encampments from San Francisco’s sidewalks – a visceral reminder of the city’s gaping inequality
Jim Peterson Speaks at Whatcom County Council
Jim Peterson speaks at Whatcom County Council about the shower truck that HomesNOW has almost completed and our plan for raising $100,000 to buy land for our pilot project.
We got a letter from the mayor of Bellingham, Kelli Linville today. She's concerned that HomesNOW was planning to drain shower water from the shower truck directly into the creek/streams near Maritime Heritage Park for our homeless summit on May 20th.
Rest assured though everybody, we already thought this through. We don't plan on dumping the dirty water directly into the streams. We will have grey water tanks under the truck. It will be completely self-contained. We plan on draining the grey water at an RV waste disposal location. Just found it funny that this was a concern.
If you have the time please call or email Kelli and let her know what you think about this.
I just read the letter. It is a pretty straight forward letter just my opinion. They just want what most people want and that is no dumping in the river. But i knew Jim and his crew were posting pics of the water closet and they are'nt dumb. Just keep 'em happy Jim, if only for the sake of others bro ! Thanx HomesNow. Not Later.
2 months ago · 5HomesNow. Not Later.I do believe the rest areas have the stations for the dumping of gray water and yes HomesNow is way ahead of the city on their thinking. (Posting as Carol Peterson)
2 months ago · 3Wow, this is like me walking to her bathroom and reminding her to flush her toilet after she takes a dump. Sorry -- but it is. If she really CARED about what was going on, she would have prefaced the letter with a congratulatory applause for the design and the service to the community! and then continued by "asking" (emphasis on asking) what Homes NOW's intentions were for the grey water rather than ASSUMING that we are clueless idiots. Dumbfounded by our city as always....
2 months ago · 5I wish she was as proactive regarding protecting Whatcom Reservoir. And wouldn’t it be cool if instead of sending a nasty gram she simply came down and checked it out once it was set up. And offered some appreciation for the initiative taken to help people have access to basic human needs...
2 months ago · 2Since I’m quite sure someone (or more) in the Mayor’s office is monitoring HN, I don’t need to email or call directly. Specifically about this email, of course the “concerns” should be addressed by ANYONE who potentially would or could dump grey water into the wrong place including Lighthouse Mission (with their soon to be delivered shower vehicle) and people who violate city ordinances and wash their vehicles in their driveways (among other places). As has been pointed out by others, given the past communications (or lack) “history” between the Mayor (and staff) and HN, a simple phone call would have been respectful and more efficient. I’ll take Jim’s word that the previous (original) “contract” was signed and delivered to the city. Lastly, given the number of summits which have been held at Maritime Heritage and elsewhere have there been ANY complaints from anyone about not following the location rules, not properly cleaning up, any other issue? If not, case closed.
2 months ago · 1HomesNow. Not Later.We got a reply from the mayor today, we have our permit as well for our Summit on May 20th at Maritime Heritage Park.
2 months ago · 7Jim Peterson Speaks at Bellingham City Hall about HomesNOW - 05-07-2018
Jim Peterson went to city hall to let the city know that the land is no longer needed and the progress that HomesNOW has made over the last 11 months.
HomesNow. Not Later.Awesome ... Carol Peterson
2 months ago
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Here is an idea: why don’t you have an actual sit-down, chin-wag, with ALL parties, together and separately, to facilitate real resolution, rather than just posting false information and blocking persons directly involved in your disputes from being allowed to respond personally, not filtered through what YOU want to put out there. Volunteering is an incredible resource for grass-roots organizations. Disagreements, power struggles, alliances, and interpersonal bumps are bound to take place; it is human nature. It is how these issues are resolved that makes or breaks an organization. I am certain all parties are real assets to your organization. Actually talk to each other. Might find it helps.
4 days ago3 Replies
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