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Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB)

BEL-CDA-2025-05-08 May 08, 2025 Community Development Advisory City of Bellingham
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The Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board held its May meeting with several new members joining for the first time, creating the fullest table since before COVID-19. The meeting featured two substantial presentations: DVSAS's Safe Start program for domestic violence survivors and their children, and an extensive overview of the city's new HomeShare Bellingham pilot program launching this summer. The HomeShare initiative represents a significant new approach to addressing Bellingham's housing shortage by connecting homeowners who have extra bedrooms with individuals seeking affordable housing. Developed through collaboration between the city and Aging Well Whatcom, the program utilizes a third-party platform called Nesterly and has been allocated up to $55,000 annually for two years. The program could potentially add up to 1,700 rooms to the local housing market by targeting property tax exemption recipients alone. Staff provided a comprehensive overview of funding sources following the recent passage of the action plan by City Council, emphasizing how the locally-approved housing levy and affordable housing sales tax comprise the vast majority of the community's housing investment capacity. These local funding sources generate approximately $7.5-8 million annually, far exceeding federal contributions of around $1.3 million from HOME and CDBG programs. The meeting concluded with the board taking a two-month summer break, with the next meeting scheduled for August 14th to review the draft CAPER (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report) before its public comment period begins.

- **Minutes Approval:** Motion by Andrew Culkins, seconded by Catherine Freiland, to approve April meeting minutes with staff's suggested rewording regarding the HUD action plan recommendation. Approved with Jasmine Fast abstaining due to absence from prior meeting. - **HomeShare Bellingham Contract:** Staff con…

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**DVSAS Safe Start Program:** Elizabeth Hart presented the domestic violence organization's children and family services, emphasizing how witnessing domestic violence constitutes trauma requiring intervention. The Safe Start program served 34 parents with violence recovery support groups, 76 family members with shelter advocacy, and 82 children with supportive services in fiscal year 2024. Hart explained how historical reluctance to address children's trauma from domestic violence was rooted in fear that children would be removed from safe parents, but current understanding recognizes the need for early intervention to break intergenerational cycles of abuse. **HomeShare Bellingham Development:** The presentation revealed extensive background research including surveys at four senior centers throughout Whatcom County, interviews with 5-6 other community programs, and analysis of best practices. Key findings showed most people with extra rooms would consider renting them out, with financial motivations being…
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**DVSAS Leadership:** Elizabeth Hart advocated for continued city support of the Safe Start program, emphasizing the long-term health consequences of childhood trauma and the cost-effectiveness of early intervention compared to addressing problems in adulthood. **Aging Well Whatcom:** Laura Welker expressed strong gratitude for the city's decision to move forward with the home sharing pilot after their research showed community interest but no local nonprofit capacity to operate such a program. She emphasized this as one solution among many needed approaches to the housing crisis. **Housing Authority:** Andrew Culkins raised practical questions …
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**Elizabeth Hart, on childhood trauma intervention:** "We know that trauma can cause lots of issues...and you know, adverse childhood experiences, or what's called in the field ACEs, can really lead to long term health consequences as children grow into adults." **Laura Welker, on housing solutions:** "I wouldn't necessarily say it's the solution. I would say it's a solution. And with our housing situation as it is, we just need as many different angles as possible." **Samuel Lewis, on progr…
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**HomeShare Bellingham Timeline:** Marketing materials and website development continuing through June, with July launch targeted for homeowner outreach and program promotion. Mid to late summer media release planned. **August 14th Meeting:** Board will reconvene to review draft CAPER (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report) covering the program year ending June 30th, followed by public comment period a…

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**New Housing Program Launch:** City officially contracted with Nesterly to operate HomeShare Bellingham, transitioning from research and development phase to implementation, with $55,000 annual commitment approved. **Board Composition:** Several new members joined CDAB for their first meeting, significantly increasing participation levels to pre-pandemic attendance. **Funding Source Clarification:** Staff provided comprehensive overview of all f…
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## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) convened on May 8th, 2025, with an unusually full table of members — something Chair Shannon Laws noted hadn't been seen consistently since COVID. The meeting brought together returning members alongside several newcomers, including Nina Rammelman, Lillette Homson, and Matt, all attending their first meeting. With representatives from various neighborhoods across Bellingham and key staff from the Housing Authority, the board was well-positioned for its evening agenda focused on housing solutions and community services. The meeting featured two major presentations that highlighted innovative approaches to addressing Bellingham's housing challenges: an overview of domestic violence services for families, and the unveiling of a new pilot program designed to match homeowners with available rooms to renters seeking affordable housing. With the board having just completed its annual action plan process and facing a two-month summer break, this session served as both an educational opportunity and a bridge to future initiatives. ## Safe Start Programs: Supporting Children and Families Affected by Violence Elizabeth Hart from Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) opened the presentations with an overview of their Safe Start program, which the city helps support. Hart began by asking how many board members knew about DVSAS, revealing that awareness wasn't universal — making her presentation all the more valuable. "DVSAS stands for domestic violence and sexual assault services. We really called ourselves what we are. No, not not a lot of creativity there," Hart explained with characteristic directness. The organization serves anyone affected by domestic or sexual violence, with Safe Start specifically addressing the unique challenges faced by parents and children navigating these traumatic experiences. The program's scope is substantial. During fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 to June 2024), Safe Start served 34 parents through their "parenting after violence" support groups, supported three families in navigating child protective services, provided onsite advocacy to 76 family members in shelter, and delivered supportive advocacy services to 82 children under age 18. Hart addressed a historical blind spot in domestic violence advocacy: "For a long time particularly within the DV movement, like, you know, 30 years ago, it was kind of intentionally ignored that for a reas…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) met on May 8, 2025, with many new members joining. The meeting featured two major presentations: DVSAS's Safe Start program for domestic violence survivors and their children, and the city's new Home Share Bellingham pilot program designed to match homeowners with extra rooms to people seeking affordable housing. ### Key Terms and Concepts **DVSAS:** Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services - a local organization providing support and services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including specialized programs for families with children. **Home Sharing:** A housing model where homeowners with extra bedrooms rent rooms to tenants, creating more affordable housing options while providing companionship and additional income for homeowners. **Nesterly:** The third-party platform contracted by the city to facilitate the Home Share Bellingham program, providing background checks, matching services, and ongoing case management support. **CDAB (Community Development Advisory Board):** The city advisory body that reviews and makes recommendations on housing and community development funding allocations and programs. **Area Median Income (AMI):** A measure used to determine housing program eligibility - different programs serve households at different percentages of AMI (50%, 60%, 80%). **HUD:** U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides federal funding streams like HOME and CDBG that support local housing programs. **Housing Levy:** A voter-approved property tax that generates about $4 million annually for Bellingham's affordable housing programs, currently in the middle of a 10-year term. **Parenting After Violence:** DVSAS's 12-week support group program helping parents who have experienced domestic violence learn to support their children and rebuild healthy family relationships. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Shannon Laws | CDAB Chair, Community Representative | | Elizabeth Hart | DVSAS Representative, Safe Start Program | | Laura Welker | Aging Well Whatcom, Chucknut Health Foundation | | Kathleen Morton | City of Bellingham Staff | | Samuel (Samuya) | City of Bellingham Staff | | Matt Unger | CDAB Member, 3rd Ward Representative | | Catherine Freiland | CDAB Member, At-Large | | Nina Rammelman | CDAB Member, King Mountain Neighborh…
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Housing Social Services Government Operations Aging Well Whatcom Bellingham Housing Authority Chuckanut Health Foundation City Of Bellingham Dvsas Hud Nesterly Opportunity Council Whatcom County Andrew Culkins Ben Spicer Catherine Freiland Elizabeth Hart Jasmine Fast Kathleen Morton Laura Welker Lillette Homson Matt Unger Nina Rammelman Samuel Lewis Shannon Laws Affordable Housing Behavioral Health Cdbg Funding Childcare Community Development Domestic Violence Prevention Domestic Violence Services Home Program Home Sharing Homeownership Housing Funding Housing Levy Housing Rehabilitation Pilot Programs Rental Assistance Safe Start Program Sales Tax Affordable Housing