Resources P. 3
Housing, Utilities, Immigration
We are a local government agency that
serves thousands of residents in
Whatcom County. The Bellingham
Housing Authority(BHA)& the Whatcom County Housing Authority work together provide needed housing in our community.
We serve Low-Income Families,vElderly People, Those with Disabilities, & Working Families in need of affordable housing.
(360) 676-6887 ext. 1025
info@bellinghamhousing.org
https://bellinghamhousing.org
Whatcom County Property Tax Exemp-tion for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities If you are a senior citizen or a person with disabilities with your residence in Washington State you may qualify for a property tax reduction under the property tax exemption for senior citizens and people with disabili-ties program. 360-778-5000 https://www.whatcomcounty.us/265/Property-Tax-Exemption
Habitat for Humanity Offers Affordable
Home Repairs across Whatcom
County
No one should have to choose between keeping their home safe and making the
mortgage payment. That’s why Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County is its
Home Repair Program — offering low-income homeowners an affordable
solution to their critical repair needs. Habitat’s goal is to build stronger and more resilient communities by empowering seniors to age in place and helping families live safely in the homes they know and love.
How does it work?
Habitat’s Home Repair program works a lot like its traditional model at a smaller
scale, following the “hand up, not a handout” model. Homeowners do have to pay for the cost of repairs, but Habitat keeps those costs low by utilizing
volunteer labor and foregoing any profits. Homeowners take on a 0% loan that is tailored to their household income to ensure affordability.
Also like the traditional Habitat program, homeowners must complete 8 hours
of volunteer “sweat equity” work for every $1,000 of repair value. Project work
can begin once half the required sweat equity hours are completed.
Once you fill out a basic application at hfhwhatcom.org/homerepair, the Habitat team will determine if you qualify for the program, and reach out to you to fill out a more detailed application and set up a home visit.
Who can qualify?
To qualify for Habitat Whatcom’s Home Repair Program, you must meet the
following criteria:
● You must own and occupy the home for which you are requesting repairs
● The home must be within Whatcom County limits
● Your total household income must be between 30% - 120% of the Area
Median Income
● You have the ability to repay Habitat for work done
What kinds of repairs are oered?
Habitat can perform repair projects up to $20,000 in value. The home repair
oerings fall into the categories of home preservation, weatherization, critical
home repair, and aging-in-place projects.
Some of the most common repair requests Habitat receives are related to
accessibility for elderly homeowners, making homes more eicient for cold
weather, and addressing health and safety issues or code violations.
Habitat will not perform aesthetic repairs or repairs to RVs or detached garages.
An opportunity for free home repair in Kendall and Maple Falls:
While typical home repairs are not free, Habitat is looking for smaller repair
projects in the Kendall/Maple Falls area to complete at no cost to the
homeowner for their annual Build Community Day event on October 4th. The ideal project for Build Community Day takes place entirely outdoors and takes around 3-4 hours to complete. Past projects have included invasive plant
removal, replacing a fence, replacing unsafe exterior stairs, and building a
wheelchair ramp.
Please visit hfhwhatcom.org/build-community-day to learn more and apply!
Questions? Visit hfhwhatcom.org/homerepair to learn more about the program, or email Home Repair Project Manager and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Graciela Leibowitz, at graciela.leibowitz@hfhwhatcom.org
Washington State Homeowner
Assistance Fund (HAF) is
administered by the Washington
State Housing Finance Commission
(WSHFC).
Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Educaon
Classes or Housing Counseling
Down-Payment Assistance
Programs or other help buying a
home Foreclosure
Prevenon Housing Counseling
Foreclosure Prevenon Legal Aid
Home Repair or Home Modificaon
Assistance
Payment Assistance Programs
(Availability varies. Call for information) 877.894.4663
www.homeownership-wa.org
Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in
Washington
Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low income homeowners to repair,
improve or modernize their homes
or grants to elderly very-low income
homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
1-800-414-1226
https://www.rd.usda.gov/
programs-services/single-familyhousing-
programs/single-familyhousing-
repair
Since 1976, we have assisted over 700
families in building their own homes
in Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
Mutual Self-Help combines your
sweat equity with technical assistance from WSH and affordable loans from USDA Rural Development.
(360) 398-0223
julia@whatcomskagithousing.com
https://whatcomskagithousing.com
DID I REALLY USE THAT MUCH WATER?
Did you know that most people use an average of 70-90 gallons of water per day? In the average house, two thirds of indoor water is used in the bathroom.
Average Household Use
Toilet26.7%
Faucet 15.7%
Bath 1.7%
Shower .8%
Clothes Washer 21.7%
Dishwasher 1.4%
Leaks .7%
Other Domestic 2.2%
Take some time to go through your
house and look for ways to conserve. Be sure to check out the District website for useful tips and guides on water conservation.
manager@cv-wd.com
360.599.1699
6229 Azure Way Maple Falls, WA
98266
Our Business Hours
Mon, Wed, Fri: 08:00–12:00and 01:00–:30
Whatcom County Water District 13 is
committed to protecting the environment and the natural habitat while supplying
pristine water and reliable wastewater services to our customers.
360-599-1801
admin@wcwd13.com
532 Sprague Valley Drive, Maple Falls
Energy Assistance: Do you need help
with energy costs? Apply for
Energy Assistance directly through
PSE now by going to: https://www.
pse.com/en/account-and-billing/
assistance-programs
1-888-225-5773
PSE’s Bill Discount Rate (BDR)
program provides you with ongoing
help on your monthly energy bill.
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. If
you’ve received energy assistance in
the past, it’s likely you qualify.
1-888-225-5773
https://www.pse.com/en/accountand-billing/assistanceprograms/
billdiscount-rate
PSE customers: Manage your
energy usage online.
For personalized energy-saving
suggestions, complete an online
home assessment to update your
home’s energy profile in the my
usage of your online account.
Measure, and monitor your home’s
usage. Find additional energy efficiency
suggestions in our to Save library.
To learn more or receive personalized advice over the phone, call an Energy Advisor1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The White House’s Investing in America agenda makes saving on energy costs easier than ever with our Savings Hub. This online resource
provides information about clean
energy tax credits and rebates for
homeowners, renters, and drivers,
helping you lower your energy bills
and make your home more
efficient. Visit.gov/Save to learn
more and start saving!hps://www.
energy.gov/save.
Are you eligible for free home weatherization? Check it out at PSE: https://www.pse.com/rebates/insulation?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=remwx-e&sc_camp=D919B664C064490784988653CB82AEE3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw3624BhBAEiwAkxgTOg2T58DRtQs9HtgCYL1gm0vPI6ITIUcD4f2jgMPVuzFWMdc8uuWBkhoC7VcQAvD_BwE
Septic Systems Evaluation
Rebates
Do you need your septic system
evaluated? Washington State and
local public health regulations require septic system owners to have a complete evaluation of their septic system performed one to three years (depending on the type of system) and to report the
condition of their system to the local health jurisdiction.
Whatcom County Health Department is offering enhanced rebates for homeowners who have senior or disability tax exemptions who need their septic system evaluated.
You can learn more at:
whatcomcounty.us/septicrebate, or
call: 360.778.6267.
Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes and workshops are taught at each of our five Job Training and Education Centers and focus on preparing adults for today’s workplace. ABE classes teach students the basic skills needed to be competitive and connect them with rewarding job opportunities.
About Our Courses
Digital Skills
With our different Digital Skills classes, you’ll learn the basics of how to operate a computer, including file management (saving), typing (keyboarding), internet, and email. Later, you can take classes in Microsoft Word and Excel to learn to create spreadsheets for organizing data and documents for writing a resume or cover letter. We also offer online job search classes and special computer classes for non-native English speakers. No previous computer knowledge or experience is required.
ESOL
Evergreen Goodwill offers ESOL classes at basic and intermediate levels for people who want to develop English literacy and improve language skills for the workplace. Classes include ESOL Basic through ESOL Level 4 and Citizenship Test Preparation. Classes are held two days a week for 2 hours, which are available in-person and virtually. Computer labs are available for independent practice.
General Education Development (GED)
Our General Education Development (GED) program is designed to help individuals prepare for and successfully complete their GED exams, providing students with an opportunity to earn a high school equivalency credential. This program is open to adult learners who did not finish high school but are looking to improve their academic skills and advance their educational or career goals. The program is focused on creating an inclusive, supportive environment where learners can thrive at their own pace, regardless of their background or previous education level.
Wraparound Services
Evergreen Goodwill’s instructors, case managers, and employment specialists support students holistically based on their individual needs and help remove barriers to employment and education. Students can receive support for barriers like housing, transportation, legal or immigration matters, among many others.
Office of Refugee and Immigrant
Assistance Resource Tool
The Office of Refugee and
Immigrant Assistance is part of the
Washington State Department of
Social and Health Services, within
the agency’s Economic Services
Administration and Community
Services Division. Our goal is to help
refugee and immigrant families and
individuals succeed and thrive in
Washington state.
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/
publish?
EQBCT=8e7e2fd0641f4f1e90bbaa36
Immigrant Rights Resources
WAISN- Washington Immigrant
Solidarity Network
At WAISN, we are committed to
defending immigrant and refugee
communities from deportation while advocating for meaningful, systemic change. Our work focuses on both deportation defense and pushing for policies that ensure justice for all
Washingtonians.
We invite you to join us in advocating for policies that guarantee everyone, regardless of immigration status, has access to healthcare, and that all excluded immigrant workers have access to unemployment insurance.
Together, we can make a real
difference and fight for a more just
and equitable future for immigrant
communities across Washington.
Deportation Defense Hotline
(Monday-Friday; 6am-6pm) at 1-
844-724-3737.
info@waisn.org
https://waisn.org
Whatcom Human Rights Task Force
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) provides comprehensive immigration
legal services and community education to advance the human rights and wellbeing of low-income immigrants and refugees.
360-389-3898
whatcomhr@gmail.com
http://www.nwirp.org/
Keeping families together, protecting people from violence, and standing up to injustice.
We believe access to justice shouldn't depend on where you are born or how much money you have.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
Monday to Friday 9:30AM - 12:00PM and 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Phone: 206.587.4009
Supporting Families of Those Detained/
Deported
The Whatcom Community Foundation
has three funds (they established them
when the last ICE raid occurred several
years ago) open to support immigrant
families and those detained. The
Immigrant Relief Fund is set to support
families in need. The Immigrant Bond
Fund helps post bond for those while
they are being detained. And the
Immigrant Legal Defense fund helps
provide funding for legal defense. 100%
of donations go to those families
impacted.
Other organizations that are providing
family support include the Immigrant
Resources and Immediate Support
(IRIS), school-district based family
engagement specialists, and Racial
Unity Now.
360.671.6463
wcf@whatcomcf.org
https://wcf.fcsuite.com
Helping Immigrant Families IRIS primarily serves immigrant women and children who are survivors of violence. IRIS responds to the urgent and unmet needs of immigrants in our communities in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish
counties in an inclusive and
comprehensive manner. IRIS connects immigrants with needed resources in our communities by acting as liaisons for our recipients.
IRIS also directly provides funding for items and services that are not
accessible to this marginalized
population.
info@irisnw.org
1050 Larrabee Ave. Ste. 104 #498
Bellingham
360-935-1688
irisnw.org
ESL: English Language Learning
Roughly two thirds of the people we
serve are immigrants who are
learning English for the first me.
More than half of our learners have
no high school diploma or GED, and
the majority have no computer at
home. Our free, customized,
individual tutoring and small group
classes make a difference in their
lives by…*Improving their basic reading,
writing, math, computer, and parenting skills. *Helping them prepare for a GED test and/or further education.
*Helping them gain US citizenship.
*Increasing their employment
opportunities.
*Enabling self-sufficiency.
*Enhancing the stability of their daily lives.
ell@whatcomliteracy.org
(360) 685-6756
https://www.whatcomliteracy.org/
english-language-learner