“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.”
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.
We provide FREE 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
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.
With dedicated funding in part by the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the State of Washington, Housing Stability mediation, conciliation, and conflict coaching are offered at no cost!
Our staff is also happy to offer trainings for housing providers to equip staff and/or tenants with useful communication and conflict resolution tools and resources. Trainings are offered on a sliding scale and we welcome you to contact us today to explore how we can help your group.
Contact our Training Coordinator at: (360) 676-0122 ext. 111 or training@whatcomdrc.org
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
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Opportunity Council (360) 734-5121 | https://www.oppco.org/basic-needs/housing/help-with-rent/ | Provides rental assistance and other community resources such as utility assistance.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Payment Assistance | https://www.pse.com/en/account-and-billing/assistance-programs | Support with paying energy bills.
The Washington State Department of Commerce offers several Landlord Mitigation Fund Programs for unpaid rent and damages.
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Opportunity Council Housing Services | https://www.oppco.org/basic-needs/housing/#housing-services | Help with paying rent, access to transitional and permanent housing, and other prevention and housing services.
Northwest Youth Services (360) 734-9862 | https://www.nwys.org/housing | Housing support programs for young adults ages 18-24 in Whatcom County.
Housing Choice Voucher | https://bellinghamhousing.org/applicants/open-waitlist/ | The Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) is a rent subsidy program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that is designed to assist lower income families, disabled individuals, and the elderly by paying a percentage of their rent.
Whatcom Resource Information Collaborative Resource Guide | whatcomresources.org
2-1-1 connects callers, at no cost, to critical health and human services in their community | https://wa211.org/
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Law Advocates (360) 671-6709 dial ext. 15 | https://lawadvocates.org | Provides free legal assistance for low-income tenants.
Northwest Justice Project | NJP provides legal assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals needing help with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in Washington state.
CLEAR Line (888) 201-1014 | http://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help | Call Monday-Friday from 9:15am-12:15pm, to speak with an attorney over the phone.
Eviction Defense Screening Line (855) 657-8387 | https://nwjustice.org/eviction-help | Renters with low income facing eviction in Washington State can get free legal help.
If you would like to find a private attorney to represent you visit www.wsba.org to see a Legal Directory.
You may also be interested in the Moderate Means Program created to help people access legal services on a sliding scale. Click here to apply online or call (855) 741-6930.
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Washington Attorney General’s Office: https://www.atg.wa.gov/landlord-tenant
Washington Law Help: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org
Landlords may find useful information through the Rental Housing Association of Washington and The Multifamily Housing Association.