BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The cleanup of one of Bellingham’s largest homeless encampments will begin later this month.
City of Bellingham spokesperson Melissa Morin says the city will officially notify people in the encampment near Northwest Avenue and W. Bakerview Road on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Morin says the city expects the cleanup to take place on the week of Jan. 20. She adds that property owners of the private land that the encampment exists on have hired a contractor to carry out the cleanup effort.
It follows Mayor Kim Lund’s order for the owners to clean up and secure their properties or face “enforcement actions.”
Morin says Bellingham Police officers will be at the encampment for the initial notification and for the beginning of the cleanup work to issue trespassing notices if needed.
Community members gathered on Friday, Jan. 3 to discuss potential housing options for members of the encampment after they’re forced to leave.
One prevailing suggestion was to build a new tiny home village, though no concrete plans have been made yet.
