On October 4th, Opportunity Council staff sat down with local officials and Senator Patty Murray for a roundtable discussion on a future
Senator Murray and Greg Winter look on as Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood and Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu discuss housing in Whatcom County.
housing facility dedicated to serving children and families.
“In recent years, we’ve unfortunately seen a substantial increase in families experiencing homelessness. As a community, we have to do everything we can to help people stay safe,” said Opportunity Council’s executive director, Greg Winter.
Hosted by Senator Murray, the roundtable included Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu, in addition to agency leaders from Opportunity Council. The future home of the Laurel Forest facility served as a fitting location for the meeting, as the site will eventually feature a 5,000 square-foot childcare center and affordable apartments for local older adults.
“Families of every size, in every corner of our state, are struggling to find a place to call home or to make ends meet due to rent or mortgage payments they can’t afford,” said Senator Murray. “To solve this crisis, we need to build more affordable housing.”
With a shared commitment to cooperation, innovation, and helping families and those in need, the roundtable was a prime example of how the collaboration of federal and local officials, and community-driven organizations like Opportunity Council can come together to address vital parts of a thriving, inclusive community where everyone has the chance to thrive.
For more details, read the official event press release here.
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