‘We are getting better’: Bellingham family of 8 moves out of car with help from community

Rachel Showalter
·3 min read

A homeless family of eight in Bellingham whose plight was highlighted in a story Aug. 1 in the Bellingham Herald is starting to get back on their feet.

The family, whose last name is being withheld to protect their privacy, was living in their car for several months this spring and summer after a series of circumstances left them unhoused.

With the help of local resources and a GoFundMe page set up to raise money, the family has been able to temporarily move into a hotel where they expect to be for the next four months.

The six children range in age from 5 months to 12 years. Those who are old enough for school are enrolled and started Thursday, according to Cassandra, the mother of the children.

Local community member Merrily Lochtefeld set up the GoFundMe page on Aug. 9 to help the family purchase basic necessities and save money for rent after reading the family’s story in The Herald.

“I don’t control the past or the future or other people’s actions,” Lochtefeld said in a previous statement to The Herald. “Right now, six kids are living in a car. The only thing I can do for them is set up an account where other compassionate people can help if they want to. We all need help at some point in our lives.”

Within about a week, the fundraiser met its financial goal of $10,000.

Six children are living with their mother, Cassandra, and father, David, in their family vehicle on July 27, 2023, in Bellingham, Wash. David works nearby while the family sits in the car with the air conditioning running to stay comfortable.
Six children are living with their mother, Cassandra, and father, David, in their family vehicle on July 27, 2023, in Bellingham, Wash. David works nearby while the family sits in the car with the air conditioning running to stay comfortable.

Lydia Place, a Whatcom County nonprofit that helps individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, helped get the family into the hotel, according to Cassandra, the mom.

“We have used donations to help get (the) kids clothes and socks and underwear, which they were in desperate need of,” Cassandra said. “We also have been able to get clothes for me and David, (the father) and cleaning supplies for the hotel room. We put most of the donations away we received to help towards a home for us. It’s taking time but little by little we are getting better.”

Cassandra sits in the front passenger seat of her vehicle on July 27, 2023, in a parking lot in downtown Bellingham, Wash. She is currently living in the vehicle with her husband and six children.
Cassandra sits in the front passenger seat of her vehicle on July 27, 2023, in a parking lot in downtown Bellingham, Wash. She is currently living in the vehicle with her husband and six children.

The family became homeless after getting hit with unexpected medical bills and losing their home in Florida. They moved to Bellingham for job opportunities and to be closer to friends. David works full-time at a local tattoo shop and delivers food for DoorDash when he’s off work to make extra money. Cassandra, the mother, is unable to work while she takes care of the younger children.

Due to the high cost of living in Whatcom County, it has not been possible for the family to save enough money on their own for permanent housing.

As of August 2023, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bellingham is $1,525, according to data from Zumper. This is a 17% increase compared with the previous year.

The number of homeless families with children also continues to rise. From 2021 to 2023, the number of homeless families counted in the annual Point-In-Time Counts averaged 88 households. Juveniles accounted for 15% of all unhoused individuals identified in 2023 and the youngest person counted was an infant less than a year old.