Home ownership has always been a part of the American dream. It is a badge of pride of a symbol of success. However, when we all watched the prices in our local housing market skyrocket to the point that a typical family can no longer get into the market, it became obvious that something is broken.
The Whatcom Housing Alliance exists in one of the most contentious issues of the day. Housing access is greatly affecting our times and is likely to get worse before it gets better. It is apparent that there is an issue with meeting the market demand with the available supply. Even as we, at Haven DW, and other professionals in the area work diligently to increase the supply, there is the issue that Bellingham is becoming known, and becoming desirable for people looking to relocate from other places. This is only likely to add increased pressure over time. I chose this path for my career because I my mom wanted me to do something that helped people. I wasn’t going to go into the medical profession like she did but I knew that I had skills, knowledge, and interest in buildings. I knew that there would always be a need from new homes and spaces for business, creativity, and community. So I chose to bring this to the table to help address these extreme challenges. There are a lot of talented and passionate people in this city that share that same drive.
From October 17th to the October 21st, there will be “A series of events that build awareness and support for innovative housing solutions”, Hosted by the Whatcom Housing Alliance. We will be sending people to a number of these discussions, lectures, and roundtables. (Look for another blog promoting this event next week and we will tell you which ones you can find us at.) I am including a link below to the calendar of events. Some of them are already sold out but there are a lot of great meetups happening so you don’t have to miss out. Every year this event gets better and more is taken away from these conversations that has now lead to real tangible change in Bellingham and beyond. This year will be the best yet. We will find new ways to use our collective knowledge, skills, and resources to shape a more accessible future in Whatcom County.
