There is nothing better than a fresh start; a new year, a new chance at change, and the hope of a new beginning. As we transition to 2019, many of us feel a sense of open possibilities but for others this sense of hope can be easily burdened by barriers they cannot face alone. This can serve as a great reminder of the work we do at Lydia Place and the road to serving those in our community who need it most. We all have the opportunity to be agents of change and because of your support and generosity we are able to be an agency of change! We look forward to working with you in 2019 to continue to disrupt the cycle of homelessness for this generation and the next!
Top Lydia Place News
Bell Tower Renovations Have Been Completed!
In late summer, Lydia Place began a major remodel of our space at Bell Tower. Located in downtown Bellingham, Lydia Place purchased Bell tower in late 2016, adding 5 units of communal housing for mothers and children downstairs and much need program space upstairs. Home to our Housing and Mental Health Counseling Programs, the upstairs of Bell Tower went under construction to add additional office space for our growing team. Thank you to our project partners RAM Construction, RMC, Architects, and Ben Kinney and Companies for your support!
Upcoming Events
JOIN US AT FIREFLY FOR
COCKTAIL WEEK THIS TUESDAY!
On February 5th from 5PM- 9PM come enjoy a lovely drink at the Firefly Lounge while supporting Lydia Place! Located at 1015 N State Street.
HEARTS FOR HOUSING IS RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER!
We are so excited for our Hearts for Housing Gala on February 9th!
This event is SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who has become a sponsor or has donated to this amazing event. We look forward to seeing you!

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 HEARTS SPONSORS!
Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting our Hearts for Housing Gala- 30th anniversary event! Together we are creating a compassionate community by creating a home for everyone and an opportunity to thrive!

We are seeking local business love in the form of gift certificates/cards for our annual Hearts for Housing event on February 9th!

This year we are celebrating THE POWER OF LOVE in our community over the last 30 years. So we are looking for local businesses to donate $5-$30 gift cards/certificates for game prizes. This is a Lydia Place fundraiser so all proceeds go directly to our programs and services.

If you or someone you know might be interested please contact Rita Thames at 360-671-7663 x 2005 for more details!
Landmark Opens New Location
We hope our dear friends  Landmark Real Estate Management  are settling into their lovely new space. We were so happy to celebrate this new chapter with them, as they have been instrumental in paving new beginnings for our neighbors in need.

Our partnership with Landmark, The City of Bellingham, and Random Acts has created new homes for 29 families and has provided over $50,000 in rental subsidy as they transition out of homelessness.
It Takes A Community
Thank you Ashley Homestore!!
We are excited to help welcome Ashley Home Store to Bellingham at the Bellis Fair Mall. We want to express our deepest gratitude for their commitment and investment to our community by supporting organizations like us! Welcome Home!
There's a New Filling Station!!
Thank you Filling Station for donating partial proceeds to Lydia Place on January 22nd! We are so grateful to be partnering with such wonderful local restaurants in Whatcom County! Don't forget to go check out their NEW location on James street for yummy burger and fries!
WAY TO GO GRIZZLY!
Thank you Grizzly Industrial Inc. for your donation of all of these adorable Olivia + Henry clothing pieces to Lydia Place clients and services! We appreciate your support in this amazing way!
Kelley Insurance Gives Back
The Kelley Insurance team gave back big! By creating a referral program, they were able to donate over 10 bags of basic needs items for the clients we serve in the community! Thank you all for your time and support in this meaningful way.
Thank you Trampoline Zone!
A special thank you to the Trampoline Zone for hosting Lydia Place on December 28th, 2018 for our second JUMP event. We had such an awesome turn out from our local community and had some great raffle prizes to hand out! Thank you to everyone who came to support us !
We Love Whole Foods!
Thank you Whole Foods for your generous donation of supplies for our Welcome Baskets! These baskets provide our clients with some of the most essential items they need when moving into a new residence. So thank you for helping us give them such a much needed warm welcome home!
Thank You For Your Service
It fills our heart with joy to see communities across the country organize, serve, and celebrate  #MLKday  despite federal buildings being closed. Love goes beyond doors and today we join in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy by saying Thank You. To all members of our community, near and far, who serve alongside us.

A special thank you to this Washington Conservation Corps group for helping us organize our donation shed. This is a constant need for our organization and we are so thankful for their support!
Impact Story
Get inspired with this impact story courtesy of of our Case Manager with the Supportive Services Partnership, Kathleen Morton
Significant Strides

Marie sits on her couch reflecting on the time she has spent in Lydia Place's Supportive Services program over the years. She speaks of recent moments of bonding with her child on a deeper level recently that she has never been able to do in past with the support of Parent Child Interaction Therapy; expressing gratitude for these special moments that she has with her two children.

Marie has worked incredibly hard over the past few years to ensure that her children are well cared for. Not only does she work closely with doctors to address challenging behaviors but with the children’s counselors. With support of Lydia Place's Parents as Teachers (PAT) program, Marie's advocacy for her child, and the support of the school, her children have the support they need to find success in learning as well as in the home. 
 
She has said many times that her children are her reason for staying sober. Marie takes an active role in her recovery and has been clean for 9 years. This past fall, she began the prerequisites for the Chemical Dependency Professional Program at WCC fulfilling her dream of higher education and financial security for her family.
 
Marie has made significant strides in financial stability; working on budgets, accessing resources when needed, paying off past debts and building her credit.
Marie vision for her family is to give her children the opportunities that she never had growing up in a safe home where they did not have to be put in compromising situations. When she graduates from our program, she hopes to find a home with a back yard for her children to play.

Congrats Marie on all of your incredible hard work and your unstoppable attitude!
Wise Buys Bulletin
Volunteer Victory Winner
Thank you Ginger for all your hard work and willingness to learn! This month’s Volunteer Victory winner is incredibly supportive of our mission, and we love having her as part of our team. Thank you!
WE'RE RENOVATING!
We are so excited to start a new organization renovation project at our Wise Buys Community Thrift store from Feb 18-22 nd ! We will be closed while we revamp our backroom storage but we will reopen on Saturday the 23rd with renewed efficiency and organization. We appreciate your patience and support as we make more room for your generous donations benefiting Lydia Place's programs and services.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP? CONTACT OUR WISE BUYS VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR AT DAKOTN@LYDIAPLACE.ORG
Noteworthy News
First 10 residents take shelter at Winter Haven Tent
Encampment Behind City Hall
The city of Bellingham has opened a temporary encampment in the Bellingham City's employee parking lot. These tents are able to shelter up to forty people through April 2nd. We are proud to work and live in a community that prioritizes our neighbors! Thank you City of Bellingham!
Microsoft Pledges $500 Million To Tackle Housing
Crisis In Seattle

“Blessed with a balance sheet that allows for sweeping gestures, Redmond tech giant Microsoft is responding to the region’s widening affordability gap with a $500 million pledge to address homelessness and develop affordable housing across the Puget Sound region.”

Awesome news for our big sister city. A HUGE thank you to  Microsoft  for acknowledging the impact the tech industry has on the greater Seattle area AND actively trying to do something about it.
Contributors Circle
2020 Engineering, Inc│ Robert Ball│Kimberly Baker│ Sarah Balz │Jim & Tanya Baumgart│ David Beaumier│ Kathryn Beck│Bonaventure Senior Living│ Barbara Brenner│Michael & Mary Brunt │ Paul Bulanov│ Tony Casale│Carmichael Clark│ Karen & Richard Clark│Barbara Cheatham│Nicholas Chrisman│ S.W & J.R Claussen│Susan Costanzo│ David & Mary Lynne Courtney│ Dianne Crain│Deming Logging Show, Inc.│ Linda Diebert│ Jacie DeLaruelle│ Jennifer Dodge │Marlene P. Edmundson│ Pamela E. Englett│ Graham Essex│ Edward Eykholt│ Tim Fisher│ Flax 4 Life│ Ayirini Fonseca-Sabune│ Steve Forbes│ Four Points by Sheraton│ Jillian Froebe│ Kai Fujita│ Denise Fulton│Eileen & Walter Galer│GK Knutson, Inc.│ Jacqueline Goodsir-Pfeil│Mindy Gravley│Gray Mold Company, Inc│Christine Green│ Emily Hagin│Ann Hall│ Victor Harkness│ Maudi Henderson│ Virginia Henderson│ Lisa Heezen│ Hill Country Holdings, LLC│ Alyssa Hinckley│ Sharon Hoofnagle│Donna Howard│ J Huffman│ Shannon Ingram│Dana & Rand Jack│Beverly A. Jones│ Elisabeth Jones│ Amy Johnson│ Traci Johnson│Gary & Sharon Jorissen│ Joy of Pilates Inc.│ Bonnie Kaeming│ KrogerPhil Kuyper│ Lakeside Industries, Inc.│Christine Larsen│ Tom Laughlin│ Sonja Lee│Dennis & Judith Lewis│Sandra Little│ I.B.E.W.Local Union #191│Elizabeth & Timothy Lowry│Georgia MacGregor│Barbara Machtey│Kristin Mccullough│Robert F. McDonnell│ Megan McGinty│ Paula McCandlis│ John Mccarthy│ McEvoy Oil│ Kathleen McQuaide│Glow Mediclinic│ Ashley Meyer│Roberta Monroe Charles Dyer│Lane Morgan│ Patti Morgan│Robert & Jeanette Morse│ Robert Morrison│Anne K. Mosness│ Marilyn Moullen│ MSNW│ Tonja Myers │ Shenandoah Myrick│ Nina Nancarrow│ Sawyer Negro │ Elliot Neiditz│ Network for Good│ North Puget Sound Carpenters│Northwest Podiatric Laboratory, Inc.│ Tammie O'Dell│Laurel Osnes Rye│ Beverly Ott│ Irene Overath│Nancy Pagh│Debbie Parker│ Mary & Ralph Perona│ Vincent Preece│ProPack Logistics US, LLC│ Melanie Pysden│ Joel & Suzanne Rautiola│Rector's Vacuum Shop│ Mike Riber│ Rice Insurance LLC│C.M.Robbins│Rogers Family Donation Fund│ Terri Salstrom│ San Juan Cable, Inc│Michael Sato│ Cleo Schacker│Roger & Lisa Schjelderup│ Kari Severns│ Jillene Snell│ Stacee Sledge│ Karla Slusher│Linda Smeins│ Robin Smiley│Bill Smith│Mark Smith│Ashley Snyder│Kathleen Snyder│Sarah Spear│ Anna Sorich│Delores Starcher│ Diane Staves│ Danielle Stenvers│ Sterling Rentals 1 LLC│Jenn Stutsman│ Scott L Thomson│ Ryan Thramer│ Truist│ Jeffery Y. Tom│UFCW Local 21│Shawna Unger│Wren Urbigkit│Steve Wallace│ Ian Weydert│Whatcom Cty Chapter of Med'l Assistants│ Rachael Wilson │ Windermere Real Estate Whatcom Inc.│ Sarah Wood│Robert & Alicia Wurm│ Amy Vieceli│ Amanda Zahler│Kelly & Becky Zender│Linda Zemler
Thank You All For Your Amazing Support!
We couldn't do what we do without people and business like you.