This website is a resource for students living off campus who may be encountering specific challenges with housing, access to food, internet/technology and transportation.
ACCESS TO FOOD
Off Campus Resources
Bellingham Food Bank offers grocery shopping Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, drive-through pick up on Tuesdays and home delivery on Fridays.
Miracle Food Network does weekly free food pickup times at various locations around Whatcom County.
The Whatcom Asset Building Coalition provides resources for multiple forms of food assistance.
SNAP Food Benefits for Students Check out this webinar on how to apply and qualify for the SNAP program which provides monthly food benefits.
Freedge – a community refrigerator packed with free nutritious food that breaks down barriers to food access. Open to all! Expect to find the Freedge packed Tuesday – Saturday with individual portions of surplus food from local restaurants, garden produce, and shelf stable pantry items. The freedge is located behind the RE Store near the RE Patch Community Garden.
On Campus Resources
Miller Hall 150
Viking Union 435
Located across from the Main office on the 3rd floor of Fairhaven College
Free farmers’ markets happen intermittently at the Outback Farm during harvest season
Journalism Food Pantry
Across from CF 257
Linguistics Department Food Pantry
Bond Hall 403 (Seminar Room and Resource Library)
HELP WITH UTILITY BILLS
PSE Customer Assistance Program
PSE’s Bill Discount Rate program provides ongoing help on monthly energy bills. Depending on your household income and household size, you can save 5% to 45% a month on your bill. There is one simple application to fill out. In most cases, no proof of income is required to apply and the application only takes a few minutes to complete online. Find more information here.
ACCESS TO INTERNET
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. Students are typically eligible if they have received a PELL grant. See here for more details.
Free wifi hotspots are being offered across Washington State. For complete information and a map of locations, visit www.driveinwifi.wa.gov. The map will be updated as more sites come online.
The City of Bellingham Public Library has wifi hotspots to rent for 3 weeks at a time.
For Western Washington University students, hotspots are available to borrow from ATUS for free. Check out the ATUS website here for more information.
The Goodwill Connect program supports digital equity by providing Chromebooks to qualifying individuals.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CAN’T PAY YOUR RENT
Apply for an Emergency Scholarship
Financial Aid offers their emergency scholarships and loans each quarter. More details here.
Apply for Unemployment
Unemployment benefits provide you with temporary income when you lose your job through no fault of your own. Go to https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment to apply.
Bellingham Rental Assistance
The Opportunity Council
In Whatcom County, Opportunity Council offers eligible households housing-focused case management and temporary rent subsidies. Eligibility for the program must be determined by a program screening specialist based on risk factors related to homelessness.
Enrollment in homeless prevention services requires an intake appointment to verify eligibility. Availability for same-week appointments opens Monday mornings at 9:00 am. Intake appointments are limited due to resource and funder limits, and fill up quickly.
To be screened for an intake appointment or speak with a screening specialist, please call 360-746-3826 Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Eviction Resolution Assistance
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center helps tenants who are behind on rent problem-solve together with their landlord, most through some combination of rental assistance, legal aid, and mediation. The landlord and tenant may be able to access rental assistance, create a rent payment plan, or create a move out plan, without going to court. WDRC services relating to housing are free.
LEGAL RESOURCES FOR RENTERS
Legal Advocates of Washington
LAW Advocates provides low-income residents of Whatcom County with a free consultation with an attorney. Currently, all consultations are remote and over the phone. Clients will be screened to determine whether Street Law is the best choice for their case, and they will be provided with instructions on how to participate. To get in contact:
- Call the office – (360) 671-6079 dial ext. 15
- Or email the Programs Coordinator using this contact form.
CLEAR Hotline
If you would like to speak with an attorney by phone, call the CLEAR hotline Weekdays between 9:15 am and 12:15 pm – 1-888-201-1014 to get screened for eligibility and then connected to an attorney.
Rental Rights Information
https://nwjustice.org/home
Resources for Undocumented Individuals
Western’s Blue Resource Center has compiled campus, local, Washington State, and national resources and information regarding topics that impact undocumented students and mixed-status families.
InformedImmigrant.com is dedicated to increasing access to resources and knowledge for the undocumented immigrant community across the U.S.
The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs provides resources for legal assistance, citizenship application and language and job search classes.
WashingtonConnection.org offers a fast and easy way for families and individuals to apply for a variety of services such as Food, Cash, Child Care, Long-Term Care, and Medicare Savings Programs.
State Food Assistance Program (FAP)
Emergency Assistance
Western’s Short-term Emergency Housing Program
The Office of Student Life can issue a room on campus in a temporary space when someone needs short-term, emergency housing. While individual situations are discussed, common reasons why someone requests emergency housing includes if a student is in between leases, is fleeing domestic violence, has a facilities emergency, or otherwise does not have a stable and secure housing option. In addition, a state grant can assist students experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Contact Student Life to request short-term emergency housing by email at student.life@wwu.edu or call 360-650-3706.
Emergency Programs through Washington State DSHS