Housing Authority Of Whatcom County

Housing Authority Of Whatcom County, a local government entity and child of Whatcom County, receives formula grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Public and Indian Housing Office to operate and modernize public housing serving low-income residents in Bellingham, Washington. The Authority acts as a grant recipient, not a federal contractor, and operates exclusively within HUD's public housing programs.

Housing Authority Of Whatcom County's grant portfolio concentrates entirely on two HUD programs under the Public and Indian Housing Office. The Public Housing Operating Fund (CFDA 14.871) provides annual operating subsidies for day-to-day expenses, routine and preventative maintenance, management and administrative costs, anti-crime and security activities, energy costs, resident supportive services, and insurance — with awards spanning multi-year periods (most recent award dated January 1, 2025, running through December 31, 2031). The Public Housing Capital Fund (CFDA 14.872) provides formula grants for capital and management activities including modernization, development, acquisition, emergency repairs, and infrastructure improvements — with the most recent award of $272,208 dated April 1, 2026, running through March 31, 2030. The Authority also holds a sub-recipient role on a Department of Commerce disaster recovery award (May 5, 2025) for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and elevation of Sumas Square Apartments following damage from the 2021 Western Washington storm and flood event.

The Authority's customer concentration is absolute: the Department of Housing and Urban Development accounts for 39 of 40 awards (98% of the portfolio) as the sole funding agency across all recent activity. The combined dollars obligated across the entire forty-award footprint dating to 2006 total $8.7 million, reflecting the nature of formula grants to a single small housing authority. Award volume remains modest and flat — two to four awards per year from 2022 through 2026 — with three awards facing ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months. The Authority's role is that of a public housing steward deploying HUD formula allocations for housing operations, capital improvements, and disaster recovery in Whatcom County; it does not compete for federal contracts, hold seats on government-wide vehicles, or engage in federal procurement as a vendor.