Why housing?

We will honor Jeff’s generosity and hospitality to his neighbors in need by using the gift to provide housing and/or support housing programs for vulnerable individuals and families in Bellingham. We will be good stewards of Jeff’s gift by using the gift so that it is sustainable and serves multiple families or individuals over time.

​Many ministries are worthy of support. So, why a focus on housing? While putting his affairs in order, Jeff wanted to provide a home for his disabled friend. Like him, she was living on a limited, fixed income and affordable housing options were severely limited. Jeff hoped she could live in his home for the rest of her life. While accommodating this request turned out to be too difficult, Jeff’s spirit of hospitality, along with other factors, led us to choose a focus on housing.

Housing for the poor has long been supported by our congregation, and housing ministries align well with our CTS mission and vision of being a Serving Community. In our post-mortgage discussions, housing solutions were a top priority. Through Community Ministries, we support several programs with a focus on housing, including:
• Interfaith Coalition, which supports Family Promise, emergency housing, and transitional housing,
• Lighthouse Mission, an organization that works throughout Whatcom County to break the cycle of homelessness, and 
• Homes Now, which supports several tiny home villages.

Also, housing for low-income people has never been more urgent.  Storms, rising housing prices, the impact of the pandemic, and our anticipated welcome of refugees in Whatcom contribute to the growing need.