Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham
The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is a local government agency, founded in 1945 and combined with Whatcom County Housing Authority as BWCHA, that provides affordable housing to 7,000+ low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families across Whatcom County, Washington through 1,614 HUD-subsidized units across 35+ properties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersBellingham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham does
The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham (BHA) is a local government agency established under Washington State law and founded in 1945, providing affordable housing services across Whatcom County, Washington. It operates in conjunction with the Whatcom County Housing Authority (WCHA) under a combined entity known as BWCHA, governed by a unified Board of Commissioners. BHA manages a portfolio of 35-36 properties comprising 1,614 affordable housing units and 8 commercial spaces, serving approximately 3,000 households and 7,000+ residents annually across Bellingham, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sumas, Ferndale, and Lynden.
BHA's core offerings operate through three federally-funded program categories: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Public Housing (both city and county), and Project Based Vouchers (PBV) for senior, family, and special-needs housing. Residents pay approximately 30% of adjusted gross income toward rent, with the remainder subsidized by HUD per-unit funding. Digital channels include Applicant, Resident, and Landlord portals for self-service program access. Notable recent developments include Samish Commons (172 affordable rental homes, 20,000 sq ft commercial space, completed 2021-2023), and ongoing projects at King Mountain, Unity Street, and Sumas Square (climate-resilient reconstruction funded by a $2.8M CDBG-DR grant). The agency has 11-50 employees and operates from 333 N. Samish Way, Bellingham.
The revenue model is government-funded through three streams: federal HUD subsidies (HCV and Public Housing operating/capital funds), rental income from income-adjusted public housing units, and discretionary grants such as CDBG-DR disaster recovery funding. The customer base is fully residential — low-income families, elderly residents (62+), people with disabilities, working families, and households transitioning out of homelessness — with no commercial customers or exportable services. Growth is constrained by federal appropriations, local government policy, and the fixed geographic market of Whatcom County.
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham
- Legal name
- Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham
- Website
- https://bellinghamhousing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is a local government agency, founded in 1945 and combined with Whatcom County Housing Authority as BWCHA, that provides affordable housing to 7,000+ low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families across Whatcom County, Washington through 1,614 HUD-subsidized units across 35+ properties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Housing Services
- NAICS
- Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- SIC
- Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)
Keywords
Where Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Federal Housing Subsidies: Receives federal funding through HUD for Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and Public Housing operations
- Rental Income: Collects rental payments from residents in public housing and affordable housing properties based on income-adjusted rates
- CDBG-DR Funding: Receives Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funding from Washington State Department of Commerce for disaster recovery projects such as Sumas Square reconstruction
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Income-based rental pricing for public and subsidized housing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is a local public housing agency that owns, manages, and maintains affordable rental housing units while administering the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), Project-Based Voucher, and Public Housing programs for low-income households across Whatcom County, Washington. Through the combined BWCHA operation with the Whatcom County Housing Authority, it delivers specialized supportive housing for elderly persons, individuals with disabilities, veterans, foster youth, and families, and it develops new affordable housing projects such as Samish Commons.
Product overview
The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham (BHA) is a local government agency offering a portfolio of affordable housing programs and services. The organization operates through two main divisions: BHA (city) and Whatcom County Housing Authority (county), serving approximately 3,000 homes housing over 7,000 residents. Core offerings include Affordable Housing Programs, Subsidized Housing Programs with the Housing Choice Voucher program, Project Based Voucher (PBV) programs for seniors and families, and 35 owned/managed properties across Whatcom County. Digital services include Applicant Portal, Resident Portal, and Landlord Portal for self-service access to housing services. Notable developments include Samish Commons, a 172-unit mixed-use mixed-income development completed 2021-2023 with senior, family, and transitional housing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Housing Program
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
- Project-Based Vouchers
- Samish Commons Development
- Specialized Supportive Housing Voucher Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 7,000+ people supported annually through housing programs
Companies that use Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Washington State Department of CommercecorePartnership through HUD's Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program for the Sumas Square Apartments reconstruction project. Grant #P-21-WA-53-LDZ1 provides approximately $2.8 million to reconstruct an 11-unit flood-damaged building in Sumas, elevating it to be resilient to future flooding.
- Whatcom County Housing AuthoritycoreCombined operations to provide affordable housing throughout Whatcom County. The Bellingham Housing Authority and Whatcom County Housing Authority work together as BWCHA, governed by a combined Board of Commissioners, supporting 7,000 people annually.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Seattle Housing Authority: Largest housing authority in Washington State, providing similar affordable housing programs (Section 8, public housing, PBV) and operating a large property portfolio. Comparable due to shared business model and HUD funding dependency, though much larger scale.
- King County Housing Authority: Large regional housing authority operating in Washington State with similar affordable housing programs and a sizable property portfolio. A broader peer in the same state with comparable program offerings and HUD funding model.
Direct peers
- Housing Authority of Snohomish County: Public housing authority operating in Washington State with similar Section 8 and affordable housing programs. Directly comparable to BHA in mission, housing programs, and target demographics.
- Everett Housing Authority: Mid-sized Washington State housing authority providing HUD-funded affordable housing programs. Comparable in scale and program offerings to BHA, serving a similar demographic in a Pacific Northwest mid-sized city.
- Yakima Housing Authority: Washington State housing authority providing public housing and voucher programs. Comparable mid-sized regional housing authority with similar HUD-funded programs and rural/small-city service area.
- Tacoma Housing Authority: Washington State housing authority providing affordable housing through federal HUD programs including Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and project-based vouchers. Directly comparable in mission, programs, and regulatory structure to BHA.
- Spokane Housing Authority: Washington State public housing authority operating Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs. Directly comparable public-sector peer with similar operational model and HUD funding structure.
Others
- WinnCompanies: National property management firm managing affordable and mixed-income housing. Tied to BHA through BHA's RFP for property management services for a 57-unit affordable property, indicating potential contractor relationship.
Emerging players
- BRIDGE Housing Corporation: Nonprofit affordable housing developer and owner operating in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable to BHA in its mission of developing and operating affordable housing, though structured as a nonprofit rather than government agency.
- Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI): Seattle-based nonprofit operating affordable housing, shelter programs, and supportive housing in Washington State. Comparable to BHA in serving low-income populations with federally-supported housing programs in the Pacific Northwest.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham social profiles
Digital presenceHousing Authority of the City of Bellingham financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham
What does Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham do?
The Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is a local public housing agency that owns, manages, and maintains affordable rental housing units while administering the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), Project-Based Voucher, and Public Housing programs for low-income households across Whatcom County, Washington. Through the combined BWCHA operation with the Whatcom County Housing Authority, it delivers specialized supportive housing for elderly persons, individuals with disabilities, veterans, foster youth, and families, and it develops new affordable housing projects such as Samish Commons.
Is Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham a public or private company?
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham founded?
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham was founded in 1945. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham based?
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham is headquartered in Bellingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Federal Housing Subsidies are the primary driver. The others are rental Income and CDBG-DR Funding.
Who are Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Seattle Housing Authority and King County Housing Authority. Direct peers are Housing Authority of Snohomish County, Everett Housing Authority, Yakima Housing Authority, Tacoma Housing Authority and Spokane Housing Authority. WinnCompanies is listed as an others. Emerging players are BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI).
Does Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham have an API?
No public API is recorded for Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham.
What industry is Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham in?
Housing Authority of the City of Bellingham's product category is Public Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAA, Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing), with a secondary code of BPAJAFAD, Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8). Its NAICS code is 53111 and its SIC code is 6513.