“I appreciate this organization and the service you’re providing for the community. When people are scared or don’t know what to do, you are there for them.”
— WDRC Housing Stability Client
 
Whatcom County family home and garden

Are you experiencing conflict with your landlord or tenant?

Are you facing or considering eviction?

Has communication broken down with your housemate?

Are relationships strained with your neighbor?

You don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

 

How can the WDRC’s Housing Stability Program help me?

During the two-year state-mandated Eviction Resolution Pilot Program, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center opened over 2,400 unique cases and directly served over 3,770 clients. While this mandatory eviction resolution program ended in 2023, we are still committed to helping Whatcom County residents maintain stable housing through effective dispute resolution services.

All services through our Housing Stability Program are free of charge!

We provide mediation, conflict coaching, and phone conciliation services to community members facing housing-related conflict who wish to:

 

  • Resolve disputes

  • Improve communication

  • Increase understanding

  • Develop agreements for shared living/cohabitating

  • Successfully negotiate payment or re-payment plans

  • Discuss deposits and move out timelines

  • Address lease agreements, neighborhood issues, or other related issues

  • Avoid the eviction process by resolving issues outside of court

  • Move forward with creative solutions determined by the parties

Housing conflict mediation at WDRC
 

Getting support with your housing conflict

We serve residents of Bellingham, Lynden, Everson, Ferndale, Blaine, Sumas, Sudden Valley, Nooksack, Point Roberts, East County and all throughout Whatcom County in navigating housing conflicts, and we are here to assist you too!

Are you interested in starting a mediation request, or did you receive a mediation request? Click on the mediation request form to provide your information confidentially, at your convenience.

Staff is available for confidential individual intake and informal coaching sessions to help you think through how you may want to move forward. We can assist you with mediation, an informal process in which impartial mediators guide people to resolve their own conflict through joint discussion and negotiation. It is a safe, private, and confidential setting which allows all parties a chance to hear one another’s perspectives, identify issues, and develop realistic, workable solutions. Mediation is an affordable, efficient, and effective process. We also offer conciliations, serving as an intermediary to help you and the other person(s) reach agreement over the phone.

Housing Stability services are FREE! With dedicated funding in part by the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the State of Washington, Housing Stability services are offered at no cost!

So, what is Mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential, and affordable process for resolving conflict with the help of a neutral, trained professional. The mediator assists parties in creating their own agreements using a proven process which addresses the interests of all parties involved. Participants often leave with a greater understanding of the situation and a mutually satisfying resolution. Key to mediation is listening to the other person, collaborating with one another, and meeting the other party halfway.

For conflict resolution support, contact:

A Housing Stability Case Manager at (360) 676-0122 ext. 115 or housing@whatcomdrc.org

*Para información de nuestros servicios en español marque al (360) 676-0122 extensión 114 o mande un mensaje a ramona@whatcomdrc.org

At this time virtual and in-person services are available. Our case managers are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Additional Resources

 
tenant rental housing skyline