A Safe Space for City of Bellingham Complaints
What is the Safe Spaces Program?
The WDRC’s Safe Spaces Program was created to provide another access point for community members to make a complaint due to concerns about the City of Bellingham’s services, or their experience interacting with or within the City of Bellingham. In recognition that barriers to direct communication between community members and the City of Bellingham do exist, the program provides an avenue for those who feel unable, unwilling, or previously unsuccessful in bringing their complaint directly to the City of Bellingham. The program is intended to supplement (not replace) the existing complaint programs within City of Bellingham departments.
The Safe Spaces Project provides an accessible, neutral, intake service that receives, honors, and captures community members’ concerns through active listening, documentation, and referral to the City of Bellingham.
*Translation services available
The program will serve to:
Create a space for community members to be heard;
Support the resolution of concerns by helping community members’ voices and experiences to be acknowledged;
Strengthen communication and feedback between community members and City of Bellingham staff;
Bolster public confidence and trust in the program and the City of Bellingham’s response to complaints;
Provide information that can be used by the City of Bellingham to deliver quality improvements in services.
How do I submit a complaint or concern?
Community members can submit their complaints or concerns regarding the City of Bellingham in a variety of ways. Please choose whatever is best for you by:
Email: safespaces@whatcomdrc.org
Telephone: 360-676-0122 ext. 114
Online: Scroll down to submit a complaint online
U.S. Mail*:
Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center
Attn: Safe Spaces
206 Prospect Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
*If submitting a complaint by mail, please download and complete the form below
When a complaint is filed, a WDRC case manager will follow up with you to fully understand your concern, and to clarify what information you would like to include in the complaint referral form, which will be forwarded to the City of Bellingham.
If we are unable to reach you to check in, we will remove all identifying information and share the remaining information with the City of Bellingham as an anonymous complaint.
Please note that when concerns are forwarded to the City, they become a public record.
Can I submit an anonymous complaint?
Individuals may choose to have their complaints documented anonymously. Basic information within anonymous complaints will still be relayed to the City of Bellingham; including details surrounding the complaint, date, time, and relevant City of Bellingham departments and/or personnel.
You may use this form to file a complaint anonymously. However, that may limit the City of Bellingham’s ability to respond to your complaint. We encourage you to provide as much information as you feel comfortable. A case manager will try to reach you to better understand what information you want shared with the City. If we are unable to reach you to check in, we will remove all identifying information and share the remaining information with the City of Bellingham as an anonymous complaint.