Base Camp: a community hub for homeless neighbors in Bellingham

Located at 1530 Cornwall Ave, Base Camp is open 24/7.

The purpose of Base Camp is to love on neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. We hope that providing food, shelter, and care for our friends will gives hope, lets people know they have incredible value, and encourages life-change.

We welcome all. If you or someone you know needs help or a chance to accomplish your goals, we would love to meet you. Here’s how to get in touch with us.

At Base Camp, you’ll find:

• A safe place for up to 200 adults to stay, night or day
  • Nightly check-in begins at 7 PM
• Free breakfast (7:15 AM), lunch (12 PM), and dinner (4:30 PM) every day
• Showers and public restrooms
• Laundry services
• Pets are welcome
• Welcoming, supportive staff and volunteers
• Community-oriented atmosphere
• Optional Bible and prayer time
• Covid-19 Testing (when symptomatic)

Partnering Organizations

We’re so grateful for partnerships with these organizations (and more) to connect our neighbors at Base Camp with the help they need:

• Bellingham Public Library
• Bellingham Police Department’s Behavioral Health Team
• Community Paramedics
• Compass Health Peer Counselors and Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
• The GRACE Team (Whatcom County & Sea Mar Community Health Center)
• Lake Whatcom Treatment Center
• Northwest Youth Services
• Opportunity Council and their Homeless Outreach Team
• PeaceHealth
• Pioneer Center North
• Sea Mar Community Health Center
• Skagit Community Detox
• Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital (Snohomish County)
• Sunrise Services
• Unity Care NW
• Various health insurance brokers
• Various local clean and sober housing agencies
• Various specialty housing agencies
• Whatcom County Health Department
  
• Whatcom County Sherriff / County Jail
• Whatcom Community Detox

Questions or Concerns about Base Camp:

Contact the Downtown Liaison: basecamp@thelighthousemission.org

Find out what we’re doing to support Base Camp’s neighboring businesses and residents: Good Neighbors Project

Code of Conduct and Guidelines:

Base Camp Code of Conduct

Nightly Count

• For the night of 6/3/23:
  • 196 people stayed the night
  • 143 Men | 53 Women
  • Percent full: 98%
• For the night of 6/4/23:
  • 196 people stayed the night
  • 145 Men | 51 Women
  • Percent full: 98%
• For the night of 6/5/23:
  • 197 people stayed the night
  • 146 Men | 51 Women
  • Percent full: 99%

View Graph with Base Camp Nightly Numbers