BASIC NEEDS

Basic Food Outreach

Provides information and direct application support that can help families and individuals obtain food stamps.

  • (360) 734-5121 (Whatcom County)

  • (360) 679-6577 or 1-800-317-5427 (Island County)

Community Resource Centers

COVID 19 update:  The Bellingham Community Resource Center and Oak Harbor office will be closed to in-person access until further notice.  Phone lines are open.

CRCs connect people with community resources to help meet basic needs such as food and housing, including referrals for housing and rental assistance.

BELLINGHAM

  • 1111 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA

  • Phone only
    9am – 4pm / Monday – Thursday, 9am – noon on Friday

  • (360) 734-5121 or 1-800-649-5121

  • whatcomabc.org

OAK HARBOR

  • 231 SE Barrington Ave., Ste 100
    Oak Harbor

  • Phone only
    9am – 4pm / Monday – Friday

  • (360) 679-6577 or 1-800-317-5427

  • Opportunity Council

MAPLE FALLS

  • 8251 Kendall Rd.
    Maple Falls

  • Phone or by appointment
    9am – 4pm (closed 12-1pm) / Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri.

  • (360) 599-3944

  • whatcomabc.org

For TTY services, go to www.washingtonrelay.com.
For TTY phone access call 711 or 1 (800) 833-6384.

In San Juan County, we partner with local Resource Centers to provide services

EASTSOUND

FRIDAY HARBOR

  • San Juan Island Family Resource Center
    476 Market St.
    Friday Harbor

  • (360) 378-5246

  • Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center

LOPEZ

East Whatcom Regional Resource Center (EWRRC)

EWRRC provides general information and resources for the Maple Falls community.

  • 8251 Kendall Road,
    Maple Falls WA

  • Available for rent or meetings.

  • (360) 599-3944

  • www.oppco.org/ewrrc

Kinship Care

Offers support services for grandparents or other non-parental caregivers of children in their custody in Whatcom, Island and San Juan County.

  • (360) 734-5121 ext. 1246

SHIBA

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) is available at the Opportunity Council to provide confidential counseling and education on medicare, health care programs, and prescription drug access, fraud and abuse, and more. 

Energy Assistance Program

Check the Home and Energy page for current information about about Energy Assistance services.

  • (360) 255-2192 (Whatcom County)

  • (360) 679-6577 or 1-800-317-5427 (Island County)

  • 1-888-586-7293 (San Juan County)

  • (360) 376-3184 for Orcas Community Resource Center

  • (360) 378-5246 for San Juan Island Family Resource Center

  • (360) 468-4117 for Lopez Island Family Resource Center

Transportation

Needs-Based Ferry Passes: Discounted ferry tickets for current Lummi Island residents.  Current discounted fares: $92 for 25 roundtrips for passenger/ pedestrian and $66 for 10 round trips for vehicle and driver.

There are two ways to qualify for the needs-based ferry tickets: Property tax exemption reduced fare passes (through the Whatcom County Assessor’s Office) and income based reduced fare passes. All applications for needs-based passes based on income are obtained and processed by Opportunity Council.

A limited number of bus tickets are distributed on a monthly basis at our Community Resource Center and East Whatcom Regional Resource Center.

  • Call for Appointment

  • (360) 734-5121

ASL description of services

A current list of Opportunity Council programs and services is available in American Sign Language

ASL