Individuals and Families

• The Opportunity Council maintains a community resource list for services and organizations providing assistance during the COVID-19 response period.

• Information and resources to help families with childcare, find assistance for children with special needs, and connect with school resources.

• The Environmental Protection Agency lists cleaning products effective against novel coronavirus with information on required contact time.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides recommendations on cleaning and disinfecting households with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and tips on how to protect yourself and others from the virus. 

• Unfortunately, scammers are attempting to take advantage of individuals and families with tactics that use COVID-19 to swindle people out of money and other assets.  Read our tips to avoid Coronavirus scams.

For Washington Residents impacted by COVID-19

• Coronavirus.wa.gov offers financial support resources on the For You and Your Family page.
• The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions has created a statewide financial resources list for Washington residents impacted by COVID-19.
• To apply for unemployment visit the Washington State Employment Security Department website. The department also has answers to frequently asked questions regarding unemployment, standby, and other COVID-19 related employment questions.

Support with Credit Card Payments

• Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on what to do if you can’t pay your credit card bills.
• The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is offering COVID-19 emergency financial help and counselor available around the clock to assist if you are experiencing financial hardship.

Housing Counseling

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a list of approved housing counseling agencies in Washington.
• The HUD Exchange offers information and assistance for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies and an online search tool to you connect with a housing counselor for free or low-cost advice to help with a wide variety of housing issues.

Mortgage Support

• Frequently asked questions, resources, and fact sheets from the Federal Housing Administration.
• What to do if you can’t pay your mortgage loan from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mortgage Loan Information page.
• Seek help from a housing counselor (see above).

Rental Support

• Governor Jay Inslee has extended the temporary moratorium on evictions through August 1.
• Seek help from a housing counselor (see above).

• Resources available for food and meal support including local food banks, food bank pick up and home delivery, and guidance to how to properly prepare food for donation and delivery.

• The Washington State Health Care Authority has created a Information and Resources page with information on waivers, specifics for Washington Apple Health clients, and more.

• Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner has a COVID-19 impacts on insurance webpage and health insurance and COVID-19 frequently asked questions page with information on insurance overage, testing, waiving deductibles, and more.

Washingtonians who do not have broadband service to their home can access free temporary internet using drive-in Wi-Fi hotspots. For more information and hotspot location visit the Washington State Drive-In WiFi Hotspots Location Finder.

Many internet service providers are waiving late payment fees and will not disconnect customers for late payments. In addition, some companies are offering free or low-cost internet services. Here are some companies that are offering free or low cost internet services:

• Xfinity WiFi public hotspots are now open to everyone.
• Comcast is offering two months free to new Internet Essentials customers in their service areas.
• AT&T Access offers low-cost internet.

• The Northwest Justice Project is maintaining the Washington Law Help website with resources to help answer legal questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and stay home orders.
• LAW Advocates of Whatcom County provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Whatcom County residents by linking them with attorney and community volunteers.  To ask about services, call 1-360-617-6079 extension 15 and leave a message.  Please allow a few days for staff to respond.

• Mental health and well-being resources for adults, children, families, and households.

State and federal lands are reopening across the state.  Remaining restrictions and closures vary by location.  Check these state lands websites before you leave home for the most current information: Washington State Parks, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Visit the Mt. Baker-Snoqualimie National Forest website and North Cascades National Park website for up to date information on federal land in Whatcom County.

Getting some fresh air during this time is encouraged. In addition to day use on state-owned lands, most local parks and trails remain open. Here’s how to engage with your local parks in a safe way.

• As we transition to Phase 2, additional park facilities are reopening but be prepared for some areas to still be closed.
• Remember to stay six feet away from others when using trails and carry a face covering to use when you can’t stay at least six feet apart.
• Be prepared for limited access to restrooms and water fountains.
• It’s still a good idea to stay local. Walk over to your neighborhood park. Don’t have a park close by? Walk around your neighborhood instead

• The Washington State Department of Health offers information to help parents with pregnancy, birth, and caring for your baby with COVID-19 (Embarazo, nacimiento y cuidado de su bebé con sospecha o confirmación de COVID-19)

• The Northwest Americans with Disabilities Act Center has coronavirus resources to help individuals with disabilities.
• The Washington State Department of Health offers COVID-19 pandemic information in American Sign Language.

All school buildings are closed through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year; however, education continues. Check with your individual school district below for details.

• Bellingham Public Schools
• Mt. Baker School District
• Ferndale School District
• Blaine School District
• Lynden School District
• Meridian School District
• Nooksack Valley School District

• The Whatcom Council on Aging offers information on local resources for seniors during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Local senior centers continue to provide programs and services while buildings are closed.
  • Bellingham Senior Activity Center
  • Blaine Senior Activity Center
  • Ferndale Senior Activity Center

• The U.S. Department of Education office of Federal Student Aid offers information on forbearance and how the coronavirus is affecting student loans.

• The Whatcom County Health Department provides information on COVID-19 testing in Whatcom County.

• Visit our Travel Information page for links to local, regional, and international travel websites.

• The Cities of Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden are all waiving late fees and suspending water shutoffs. Additional information is available on their city websites:
  • City of Bellingham
  • City of Blaine
  • City of Ferndale
  • City of Lynden
• If you need assistance with your energy bill, here is the Opportunity Council Energy Assistance Program

• Utility COVID-19 response pages:
  • PSE has a Crisis-Affected Customer Assistance Program (CACAP) for customers who recently became unemployed, partially unemployed, or cannot work. PSE also offers payment plans and allows customers to change a bill’s due date – the system will require you to log on before you can change your billing settings. Additional PSE resources can be found at www.pse.com/covidhelp.
  • Cascade Natural Gas
  • Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission COVID-19 Response
• If your utility provider is not listed here, contact your provider for more information about their specific COVID-19 response.

These local and national resources offer help and assistance for individuals and families who feel unsafe in their homes from violence or sexual assault.

• Brigid Collins Family Support Center offers individualized support and resources to families in Whatcom and Skagit counties. To speak to staff in the Whatcom County office call 360-734-4616.
• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services offers support to adults experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual exploitation. To speak to staff call the 24-hour phone hotline at 360-715-1563.
• Lummi Victims of Crime offers a variety of support for adults and adolescents who have been affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and other violent crimes. To speak to staff call the 24-hour phone hotline at 360-312-2015.
• If at any time you are questioning the safety of adults or children, Adult Protective Services and Child Protective Services may be the appropriate and necessary option.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline offers support through the chat feature on the website or over the phone at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY).
• API Chaya specializes in supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking with people from or affiliated with Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern communities.