Lighthouse Shelter Expands Its Reach

For years, Lighthouse has helped men, women and families find housing and work. We provide comprehensive support services, such as housing placement, employment readiness, job training, education, and counseling for mental health and substance abuse issues. Our goal is to help clients move from dependence to self-sufficiency.

Lighthouse Navigation Center (formerly Second Street Shelter) celebrated its first anniversary this year, recognizing the progress that has been made to help unhoused individuals and their families build better lives by providing housing, meals, and wrap-around social services. The new facility was built on a former church campus in the Old Town area and includes 300 beds – 200 low-barrier beds and 100 micro-shelter beds for families, working guests, elderly, and those who require mental health care. Additional severe-weather overflow capacity is also available.

The new facility was designed to encourage safety and healthy engagement with the neighborhood, including best-practice lighting standards, a single entrance and exit on the Astor Street side of the property, natural sight lines through the use of windows, and video surveillance. It will be a calming presence and a positive addition to the Old Town community.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The director of a local homeless shelter wants to double its current capacity in a move that worries some business owners. Hans Erchinger-Davis of the Lighthouse Mission hopes to start renovations on the existing building on Holly Street near downtown Bellingham soon.

Lighthouse has been able to expand its impact through strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations. These partnerships enable Lighthouse to provide additional services for our clients, such as access to medical care, transportation, food, clothing, and housing placement assistance.