Our Vision and Impact
At Ferndale Community Services, our mission is clear: To understand and address unmet needs by providing resources and connection. In line with this commitment, we undertook the Ferndale Safe Parking Initiative to explore a program that would support our unhoused neighbors sheltering in their vehicles.
Our team, which included FCS staff and an 8 member Community Workgroup, spent time between November 2023 and March 2024 researching, planning, and designing a program that included eligibility criteria and a comprehensive intake process, goal setting and support services from a Community Resource Navigator, and a supervised, congregate parking site with necessary amenities.
As we researched and developed our approach, we’ve discovered that our initial vision faces some significant challenges- in particular, finding a suitable location and securing sustainable funding. This has led us to rethink our approach.
Pivoting: From Congregate Parking to Individual Support
Our Evolution: Initially, our vision was to establish a congregate safe parking program. However, challenges such as finding a suitable location and securing sustainable funding led us to rethink our approach.
The New Focus: We are now pivoting to provide personalized, goal-oriented support for individuals living in vehicles. This will look like:
- Participants who are living in their vehicle in Ferndale or North Whatcom County must meet eligibility criteria, including passing a background check and agreeing to adhere to a code of conduct.
- Individualized support including 1:1 resource navigation and tailored plans for each participant to achieve stability.
- Assistance in finding and accessing established legal and paid parking sites.
This shift in our approach aligns with our original mission: We firmly recognize that safety and attending to basic necessities are foundational to a person’s well-being. Furthermore, we understand that individuals can only redirect their attention toward securing employment, finding stable housing, and nurturing meaningful connections within the community once they have met these fundamental needs. Our new program will provide that opportunity.
Our Community Workgroup
Since convening in November, our dedicated Community Workgroup has helped to develop and refine the program, and guide our program shift. The workgroup consists of passionate and committed members from various backgrounds, bringing a wealth of experience and insights to our mission. We are proud to acknowledge the contributions of our members:
- Maralise Fegan
- Kendra Christelli
- Brenna Lee Kentch
- Scott Henry
- Scott Pilon
- Christine Hanowell
- Lyle Sorenson
- Lindsey Graham Elenbaas
Their collective efforts have been instrumental in shaping a program that will not only be effective but also sensitive to the needs of those we serve.
Making the Most of Our Resources
How We’ll Use Our Funds: The resources initially allocated for the congregate program will now support our new strategy. This includes:
- Hiring a Dedicated Staff Member: A full-time professional will work closely with individuals living in their vehicles.
- Funding Support Services: We’ll assist participants in working toward self-identified goals by providing support, which can include accessing safe parking at established legal parking locations.
Open Table Discussion- Engaging the community
To further our commitment to community engagement and transparency, we hosted two “Open Table Discussions” in January and February. These discussions serve as a platform for community members to voice their concerns, ask questions, and offer suggestions. The feedback and ideas gathered from these sessions are invaluable in guiding our program’s direction.
Our final Open Table for this Initiative will be held on March 27th. Please join us to discuss our change in direction and our plans to support our unhoused neighbors who are sheltering in vehicles.
We’ve learned much about the need for such programs and the community’s role in supporting them. In the coming months, we’ll be forming a Community Advisory Committee to gather continuous feedback. Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved! Learn more about how you can volunteer, donate, or partner with us by contacting Kate Bishop, Program Development Manager, at kate@ferndalecs.org.