The Way Station: Built by Community
Updated: Sep 2
The Way Station — A first-of-its-kind facility in Whatcom County — offers a range of services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Created through collaboration and generous community support, The Way Station helps people experiencing homelessness stay healthy, heal with dignity, and move toward stability by bringing health care, hygiene, and recovery services together under one roof.
This work is only possible because of supporters who believe everyone deserves access to basic care — no matter their housing status.
Project Services
Meeting Essential Needs. Improving Health. Creating Pathways Forward.
The Way Station was designed through years of The Way Station was designed through years of research, site visits, and cross-sector planning by Unity Care NW, Opportunity Council, PeaceHealth, and public health partners. Services offered on-site include:
Health Care: medical, behavioral health, and substance use care, with expanded access to lab testing, vaccinations and ongoing health monitoring.
Hygiene Services: showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities that reduce the spread of illness and provide comfort. A hot box is available to treat personal belongings and prevent disease.
Case Management: Linking clients to benefits and social services.
Connections to Stable Housing: Opportunity Council staff provide supportive pathways to help individuals out of homelessness.
Medical Respite Care: A quiet and supportive environment staffed 24/7 where individuals discharged from the hospital can safely recover from a medical event.
Health Begins with Basic Needs
People experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to staying healthy. Limited access to hygiene facilities, preventive care, and safe places to heal leads to worsened health outcomes and avoidable hospitalizations. Inadequate sanitation also increases the spread of communicable disease more broadly.
Access to something as simple as a shower or clean clothes can dramatically reduce infection risk. Access to medical respite can mean the difference between recovery and repeated emergency care.
The Way Station addresses these gaps — improving individual health while strengthening public health for everyone.
Community Collaboration
Recognizing the urgent need in our region, Unity Care NW, Opportunity Council, PeaceHealth, and the Whatcom County Health and Community Services partnered to establish The Way Station at Whatcom County owned property at 1500 N. State Street.
This innovative model ensures that:
People can meet basic hygiene needs with dignity
Health concerns are addressed early
Hospital patients experiencing homelessness have a safe place to heal
Guests can access wraparound services that support long-term stability and housing
Location & Facility
Located near public transportation and key social and health services including the Opportunity Council and Unity Care NW.
The facility operates under a comprehensive Operations Plan that outlines staff roles, guest agreements, safety protocols, and emergency procedures — ensuring services are delivered responsibly and compassionately.
Project Funding
The project was made possible through a combination of philanthropic support and public investment at the federal, state, and local levels.
Awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of a historic funding package to supportive services for people in unsheltered settings.
Secured $4 million in Washington State capital funding, championed by Senator Sharon Shewmake
“This project hits it all — caring for community, saving money and helping to get people better and in housing.”
These investments reflect broad confidence in The Way Station’s ability to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term system costs.
How You Can Help
Community generosity keeps The Way Station’s doors open.
Your support helps provide:
Hot showers and clean laundry
Access to medical and behavioral health care
Safe recovery for people leaving the hospital
A healthier community for everyone
Partner Support: Unity Care NW is a Bombas Giving Partner, providing new clothing to unhoused guests at The Way Station.
