Bellingham shelter faces 50% funding cut

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  Sun House is a Bellingham shelter providing 24/7 support to nine residents with mental health diagnoses who are homeless“Sun House at 515 E. Chestnut St. in Bellingham provides shelter to nine residents with mental health diagnoses who are also homeless.”
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  Sun House will cease emergency shelter operations at the end of September“Sun House, a nine-bedroom shelter for homeless people with mental health diagnoses, will see a 50% cut in funding from the county next year. For about 15 years, the shelter, primarily funded by Whatcom County, has served residents in a house on the edge of downtown Bellingham, offering homecooked meals and 24/7 support. Starting next month, Sun House will no longer operate as an emergency shelter.”
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  Sun House received a 50% funding cut from Whatcom County“Sun House, a nine-bedroom shelter for homeless people with mental health diagnoses, will see a 50% cut in funding from the county next year.”
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  Executive Director Hannah Osborne stated the new funding level does not cover a 24/7 staffing model“The new level of funding doesn’t “come close” to paying for a 24/7 -staffed shelter model, Executive Director Hannah Osborne told CDN.”
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  Sun House will transition to a less intensive housing model“One vision is a transitional housing model instead, Osborne told CDN.”
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  Current residents will be moved to other programs“The organization is working to transition current residents to different programs.”
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  The shelter's future remains uncertain“Sun House’s future is in flux.”
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  The new model would not provide the same level of support“The new model wouldn’t provide 24/7 staffing and as a result, residents would have to be able to complete daily tasks individually.”