BELLINGHAM, Wash. — City officials unveiled a bold new plan for the King Mountain homeless encampment this week, announcing that the site will be transformed into a luxury tiny home village housing its current residents.
The project will be administered by the Permanent Integrated Shelter System, which operates under the Sustainable Housing Investment Trust and reports directly to the mayor’s office. Officials say the layered structure ensures accountability at every level.
The commission unveiled its logo last month: a stylized water droplet set against a pale yellow background, designed by an outside consulting firm at a cost of $14,000 in taxpayer funds.

Under the proposal, the village will include dozens of upscale units equipped with solar panels, high-speed internet, mini-fridges, and state-of-the-art shopping carts featuring hybrid battery systems for easy navigation plus USB ports to charge phones on the go.
“After years of clearing the camp, moving residents elsewhere, and watching them cycle back to King Mountain, we realized the most compassionate solution was to upgrade the spot they clearly prefer,” a city spokesperson said.
To address ongoing concerns about property crime near the Walmart, Cordata Center and Target just down the road, the program will include a Theft Loyalty Punch Card program.
Each participant will earn a stamp for each qualifying incident under the state’s low-dollar theft threshold. After five punches, residents will receive a premium “Frequent Visitor” package including priority access to city services and a commemorative tote bag that says “I ♥ Retail.”
“Our laws already treat repeated low-level theft as more of a suggestion than a crime,” the spokesperson explained. “We’re simply formalizing the process so everyone can feel recognized for their contributions to the local economy.”
Additional luxury features will include:
• A shared Resource Hub stocked with artisanal toiletries and prominently displayed Narcan kits in elegant dispensers.
• Mandatory weekly “Unhoused Leadership Council” meetings where residents will vote on which brand of government-issued socks best represents their personal brand.
• A paved walking path connecting the village directly to the Cordata retail corridor, described in planning documents as a wellness trail.
Funding for the project will come from a new 0.5% 'Compassion Levy' on all local beer sales, which officials project will generate enough revenue "so long as the brewery district performs as expected."
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the development’s impact on the area, but city leaders countered by promising to plant several native ferns and designate a small “meditation zone” where residents can reflect on systemic issues between trips to the store.
Neighborhood residents who have watched the encampment situation repeat for years offered mixed reactions.
“If they’re going to keep coming back anyway, at least give them better tents,” said one longtime resident. “The tiny homes look nicer than my actual house.”
Construction is expected to be complete by Thanksgiving, which officials called a fitting gesture.
At press time, outreach teams were helping current King Mountain residents complete applications for the new units while reminding them that the old tents should be broken down in an orderly fashion this time.
Editor’s Note: This article is satire. No such luxury tiny home village has been proposed, though the recurring game of encampment whack-a-mole remains very real.
I get it’s satire, but someone will think this is a great idea!! Haha
What makes the city think that they need a pool? I'm a recovering addict of 4 yrs. I went to recovery. They helped me get into a place, I went and got a job, have a car, pay my rent, pay taxes. Drug addiction is tough, but you have to be your own rescue. I had to jump through hoops for my recovery. To the City Of Bellingham, do you really believe you handing them housing like this, it's gonna stop their drug use and the theft of local business? Hell no!! ilIt's not. The tiny village is a wonderful idea, however, don't just hand it out to whoever. Give it to the ones who are willing to jump through hoops towards sobriety and mental health help. I'm just saying.
This is hilarious and well written. Thank You for the laugh
This has got to be satire. It is framed as a nice article... but PISS? Really? Nice try, but I do not think most people are this gullible.
It’s funny…
OK, I love it! I'm done with being responsible for myself. Why bother? And I really do need to try some Fentanyl to see what all the fuss is about, it must be great stuff. Going to also have to hone my shoplifting skills, but I'm sure there's plenty of folks here to show me the ropes. My parents taught me that hard work and thrifty living were the keys to my success, but they were wrong. Here's to the non-productive, drugged-out good life! Thank you Bellingham, you're enabling me to live the comfortable life as a failure in society. I love this place!!
UNBELIEVABLE . Kids today get everything handed to them on a silver platter while the rest of us worked 60 hours a week at the GP mill just to pay a mortgage . If you want a roof over your head you get a JOB . Period !! The city is ruining this town . Angry face emoji Gobbless send text
Oh Clarence you always were a spitfire !!! 😂 Do you remember me from Mr. Knibbs' algebra class at Bellingham High School back in 1958 ?? Go Raiders !! 🟥 You used to wear that corduroy jacket with the grease stains and look at you now still talking about the mill !! How is your sister Betty doing? I heard she moved down to Olympia . Say hello to Linda for me and tell her my hip is finally healing up . God bless you Clarence !! Let’s get coffee soon !!
Well written!
Thank you for reading, this is a developing story. Waiting to hear back from the city for an additional comment.
@bellinghamtimes. PiSS is Perfect, as Democrats PISS Away the Tax $
@bellinghamtimes what is a "developing stort"? The editors note at the end points out it is fake and satire.
luxury tiny homes look nicer than my double wide . where is my tote bag ?? i love retail too but i actually pay for my prunes . typical bellingham . alexa delete comment
The article ends by pointing out it is a satire piece. Seems more like a rage bait piece.
Is this a joke?
Read the end of the article. It says it is satire. I guess Bellingham Today likes to post rage bait now to trigger people
Oh, wonderful, a theft loyalty punch card. I guess my grandson who works at the Target is expected to just smile and hand out stamps while they walk off with the electronics? I’ve been buying my fabric at the local shops for fifty years and I’ve never received a single priority tote bag, let alone one that says "I love Retail." Absolutely ridiculous!
Its a satire article. Its a joke, lol