Safe Spaces Program

Moving into the 2025 calendar year, the City of Bellingham has decided not to renew funding for the Safe Spaces program. As such, WDRC will no longer be able to accept new inquiries as of December 1, 2024. All current cases will be brought to a close by December 31st, 2024.

Any new complaints for or about the City of Bellingham or its services can be directed to:  Report an Issue - City of Bellingham. 

As part of our longstanding services to the community, we continue to offer confidential intake, coaching, mediation, and facilitation services. To explore whether we may be of service, please feel free to reach out to wdrc@whatcomdrc.org to be directed to the appropriate staff member.

What was the Safe Spaces Program?

The WDRC’s Safe Spaces Program was created to provide another access point for community members to make a complaint due to concerns about the City of Bellingham’s services, or their experience interacting with or within the City of Bellingham. In recognition that barriers to direct communication between community members and the City of Bellingham do exist, the program provided an avenue for those who felt unable, unwilling, or previously unsuccessful in bringing their complaint directly to the City of Bellingham. The program was intended to supplement (not replace) the existing complaint programs within City of Bellingham departments.