Community Resources
If you are in crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department. Another helpful resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available 24 hours a day at 988.
Substance Use Support
Ideal Option Bellingham
3800 Byron Ave, Ste. #122 Bellingham, WA 98229
(877) 522-1275
https://www.idealoption.com/clinics/bellingham?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Yext
Services: Ideal Option is an outpatient addiction clinic that provides Medically Assisted Detox (MAT) for addiction recovery. This clinic specializes in opioids, but can also support recovery from addictions to alcohol, benzodiazepines, marijuana, kratom, and tobacco. Ideal Option offers fast (same day to 24 hours) appointments, and depending on individual circumstances, may be able to assist with court-ordered treatments. Suboxone and Vivitrol prescribers with the ability to refer to Methadone treatment if needed.
Funding Options: Ideal Option accepts Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and most private insurances. If the patient is unemployed, financial aid is available, or staff can assist the patient in applying for health insurance. Payment plans can also be arranged—Ideal Option states they will do anything they can to help someone who is committed to their recovery.
Whatcom Community Detox
2026 Division St, Bellingham WA 98226
(360) 812-7220
https://pioneerhumanservices.org/treatment/centers?tid=18#0
Services: Intensive inpatient clinic with 16 beds monitoring and support during intoxication and withdrawal, Medically Assisted Detox (MAT) services, motivational programming, referrals to mental health services, and assessments and referrals for substance use disorder treatment once admitted. Treatment areas are alcoholism, opioid addiction, and other substance use. This is a crisis detox clinic that serves individuals whether they are intoxicated currently or in withdrawal, as long as they are medically stable. Clients can self-refer for treatment, but this clinic also accepts referrals from law enforcement, hospitals, mental health providers, and friends and family of the patient.
Funding Options: Accepts Medicaid, payment plans, and has financial aid available for those in need.
LGBTQ+ Focused
Northwest Youth Services
108 Prospect St, Bellingham WA 98225
(360) 734-9862
https://www.nwys.org/behavioral-health
Services: Northwest Youth Services is a social services organization with many specialties, but in 2017 they received a grant from SAMHSA to partner with community organizations that provide behavioral services to youth and young adults in crisis. They offer mental health support, juvenile justice support, and housing support (including rent payment assistance programs) in addition to support for the treatment of substance use disorders. They also provide support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through their Queer Youth Project, and offer support groups every 3rd Friday of the month. Northwest Youth Services has an upper age limit of 24, but otherwise they welcome inquiries and drop-in appointments.
Funding Options: Northwest Youth Services is a nonprofit organization and provides its services through donations from the community.
Food and Basic Needs
Bellingham Food Bank
1824 Ellis Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-0392
https://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/
Services: The Bellingham Food Bank partners with local farms and growers to ensure Bellingham residents don’t go hungry. Patrons of the food bank don’t need to sign up in advance, and the only requirement for access is to be a resident of Whatcom County. For those who are unable to come “shop” in person downtown (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10-6), the Food Bank also offers home delivery on Fridays from 9-3. There is also a satellite pickup location at Christ the King Community Church (4173 Meridian Street), and the Food Bank also partners with a number of other locations in Whatcom County (Blaine, Point Roberts, Lynden, and other towns).
Cost: Free
Shelter/ Domestic Violence Support/ Housing
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
1407 Commercial St. Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 671-5714
24 Hour Help Line: (360) 715-1563
Services: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services provide a range of services to individuals experiencing domestic violence including a 24-hour help line for emergency support, Walk-in advocacy counseling (Monday-Friday, 9-5), advocacy counselors who provide support during sexual assault forensic exams, and 911 safety planning immediately after a domestic violence call is made to the police. On a more ongoing basis, DVSAS also provides advocacy counseling which includes safety planning, shelter/medical/emergency referrals, and legal advocacy. DVSAS also provides safe shelter for anyone experiencing domestic abuse including women, men, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and all backgrounds and ethnicities. The shelter program is accessible to individuals with disabilities and service animals are welcome, with other pets considered on a case-by-case basis. Anyone who is in need of emergency shelter is encouraged to call the 24-hour helpline.
Cost: Free
The YWCA Bellingham (Young Women’s Christian Association)
1026 North Forest St, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 734 – 4820
https://www.ywcabellingham.org/
Services: The YWCA offers shelter specifically to women experiencing homelessness and includes emergency shelter, senior housing, and supported rental housing among their program offerings. They take referrals for their housing program through the Whatcom Opportunity Council’s Whatcom Homeless Service Center (part of the Whatcom Opportunity Council).
Cost: Free
Whatcom Opportunity Council
1111 Cornwall Ave, P.O. Box 2134, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 734-5121
Services: The Whatcom Opportunity Council offers a wide range of services in the community including childcare resources and assistance, employment support, food assistance, and rental assistance programs. The Opportunity Council is the point of contact for the Whatcom Homeless Service Center, which can assist individuals through the process of applying for and gaining shelter and more long-term housing.
Cost: Services are free, but some programs such as rental assistance may require an individual’s ability to contribute financially to rent depending on the program.
Legal Support
Northwest Justice Project
1814 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 734-8680
CLEAR Client Intake: (888) 201-1014
Services: The Northwest Justice Project offers free legal support for issues such as eviction and housing, family needs, income security, education, and more. This organization’s goal is to help correct social and racial inequity and support the well-being of low-income individuals in the state of Washington. The CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral) hotline is a toll-free resource that the Northwest Justice Project uses to provide individuals with the best legal advice and support possible. By calling this number, individuals can provide details of the issue they are facing, and the hotline workers will determine eligibility to speak with a lawyer or paralegal, or provide a referral to another entity if this would better suit the needs of the caller.
Cost: Free
Law Advocates
1415 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 671-6079
Services: Law Advocates provides free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals in Whatcom County by connecting them with attorney and community volunteers. Their office is currently closed to in-person traffic due to COVID-19, but they can offer phone assistance, and in the past they have provided free public clinics for legal advice and support.
Cost: Free if eligible for low-income support
Tribal Services
Lummi Victims of Crime
24 Hour Hotline: (360) 312-2015
https://www.lummi-nsn.gov/Website.php?PageID=399
Services: Lummi Victims of Crime is a program via the Lummi Nation tribal government which supports tribal members who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, assault and battery, homicide, child abuse, and sexual assault. The 24 Hour Hotline connects callers with on-scene advocacy, crisis counseling, safety planning, and legal advocacy. Lummi Victims of Crime can also connect individuals with therapy referrals (including traditional healing such as sweats and smudges), education (teen girls’s groups), and transportation to medical, legal, and therapy appointments. Lummi Victims of Crime can also help individuals access shelter at Ne-Alis Tokw (My Sister’s Place), a DV shelter for tribal members.
Cost: Free for tribal members
Healthcare
Planned Parenthood Mount Baker
1530 Ellis Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 734-9095
Services: Planned Parenthood offers inclusive and LGBTQ+ informed healthcare services—while they are best known for contraception and family planning support, they’re able to support a wide range of healthcare and reproductive health needs. Planned Parenthood in Bellingham is able to provide LGBTQ+ individuals with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and can also provide HIV services, birth control, emergency contraception, STD testing, vaccination, and primary care services. They are currently operating both in-person and via telehealth, and are able to provide follow-up calls that are discreet and do not disclose who they are if phone privacy is a concern. Planned Parenthood also offers a phone application, “Planned Parenthood Direct” for individuals who are unable to get to a health clinic in-person, and telehealth services are available in Bellingham as well.
Cost: Planned Parenthood accepts Medicaid, Medicaid Family Planning Benefits Program, and Medicaid for Pregnant Women, and also offers financial assistance via a sliding scale if needed. Some labs may involve a fee.
Mental Health Support Services
NAMI Whatcom County
800 E Chestnut St. Suite 1C, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 671-4950
Services: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Whatcom County branch offers educational outreach for individuals and their families and loved ones who are living with mental illness, taught and led by volunteers who either personally live with mental illness or have family or loved ones who do. Classes are often offered on-demand and include Family-to-Family classes for individuals supporting a loved one with mental illness, Peer-to-Peer for individuals looking for support with their own mental illness, or a Basics class for parents supporting a child with mental illness. In addition to these classes, NAMI Whatcom also offers support groups, many of which are accessible via Zoom as well as in person. These support groups include family groups, recovery groups, and groups for survivors of suicide loss (groups take place Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays).
Cost: Free
The Arc of Whatcom County
2602 McLeod Rd, Bellingham, WA 98225-1368
(360) 715-0170
Services: The Arc of Whatcom County is an organization dedicated to serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Their goal is to increase independence and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities in the community, and provide information and referrals for families and individuals, educational workshops, and lifelong support and assistance. The Arc also provides advocacy such as the Down Syndrome Outreach program, parent-to-parent programs, and a self-advocacy group for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Cost: Free
Max Higbee Center
1400 N State St Suite #101, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 746- 7181
Services: The Max Higbee Center is a grassroots organization founded by educators and individuals with disabilities, and serves as a community center for promoting the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of youth and adults with developmental disabilities. The center hosts workshops, community events, and services such as 1:1 recreation mentorship.
Cost: $5-15 per hour for group programs and recreation mentoring, specialized and registration events vary by activity, however full financial assistance is available to anyone who requires it, with no documentation required to qualify.
Employment Support
WorkSource WA
101 Prospect St, Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-1521
Services: WorkSource WA is an organization that consists of a partnership between state, local, and nonprofit agencies that provide employment and training services. WorkSource WA’s website offers job seeking tools and helps match candidates with employers, and WorkSource’s office location offers in-person job seeking advice and support to help individuals find employment. The Bellingham location includes a computer lab that individuals can use to access the internet and apply for jobs if necessary, and also hosts workshops and events for job seekers.
Cost: Free
National Resources
The Trevor Project
Crisis Line: (866) 488-7386
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
Services: The Trevor Project is a national resource that can connect LGBTQ+ people to competent counselors who can anonymously listen and support in a crisis. Individuals in need of support have the option of calling, texting, or using the online chat feature to connect with a trained volunteer. The Trevor Project’s website also has a safety feature that enables visitors to quickly leave the site at any time by pushing “esc” three times on their keyboard if they are at risk of being discovered.
Cost: Free
SMART Recovery
https://www.smartrecovery.org/
Services: SMART Recovery is an evidence-based mutual support model for addiction support with an international presence in the US, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. SMART Recovery meetings are focused on empowering individuals and giving them a sense of control and agency in their own lives, in contrast to the Alcoholics Anonymous model, and is not inherently religious or spiritual. SMART Recovery meetings take place in-person and via Zoom through local chapters, and there is also an online forum that hosts anonymous meetings for participants who may not have access to or wish to attend a local chapter. The online forums also feature a 24 hour chat for individuals needing support at any time.
Cost: Free
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(800) 273-8255 or dial 988 (nationally available July 16th, 2022)
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Services: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24 hours per day, 7 days a week support for individuals experiencing a suicidal crisis. Individuals can call the lifeline or chat live via the website. The Lifeline connects individuals to a network of 200 local crisis centers, ensuring both comprehensive support and coverage and local resources for individuals who reach out for help.
Cost: Free
American Cancer Society
24 Hour Helpline: (800) 227-2345
Services: The American Cancer Society offers education and support for individuals with cancer and their families via their 24-Hour Helpline, or through a live chat on their website. This support can range from help understanding a diagnosis to assistance getting a ride to medical appointments, to questions about medication side-effects. The helpline can also assist callers in referral to local and national resources, such as wigs and prosthetics, medical equipment, lodging, transportation, and more. They can also simply provide a friendly, nonjudgmental presence for those who want to talk and receive emotional support.
Cost: Free
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24 Hour Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
Services: The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers phone, text, and chat support for individuals experiencing domestic violence. The website offers a quick exit feature, where users can close the site by clicking “esc” three times, or clicking the red “exit” button in the top right corner of the site. This organization provides confidential support in many languages and includes services for the deaf or hard of hearing, and has specialized training in working with Native American populations as well. Phone support can assist in safety planning, helping callers connect to local resources, and with accessing legal and healthcare support.
Cost: Free