30 Laptops Donated to Help Bellingham Residents Experiencing Homelessness Find Work

Thirty new laptop computers will help people experiencing homelessness in Bellingham build digital skills and pursue employment opportunities.

Comcast recently donated the computers, valued at nearly $20,000, to Lighthouse Mission Ministries. The nonprofit will make them available to shelter guests and program participants for résumé writing, job applications, online training, and basic computer instruction.

The donation comes as local service providers continue working to help people move from homelessness toward stable housing and employment. In Bellingham, Lighthouse Mission Ministries operates an emergency shelter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with residential recovery, workforce-development, and case-management programs.

Access to a computer can be especially important for people experiencing homelessness. Many employers require candidates to search for openings, submit applications, upload résumés and complete training online. A lack of reliable technology can create another barrier for people already navigating housing instability.

“Having access to a computer can open the door to new job and career opportunities,” Alvin Helms, interim CEO of Lighthouse Mission Ministries, said in the announcement. He said the laptops will help guests develop skills, search for jobs, and take steps toward employment and greater independence.

The organizations have worked together since 2021, when Comcast donated a mobile computer lab with laptops, a projector and a printer. The mission used that equipment for a four-week résumé-building course covering job research, local employment listings, document editing, and typing.

Comcast also helped establish a Lift Zone offering free Wi-Fi at the mission’s Base Camp emergency shelter. The latest donation expands the number of computers available directly to people using the organization’s services.

“Getting ready for work today means having access to technology and knowing how to use it with confidence,” said Vincent Buys, Comcast government and community affairs manager and a former mission board member.

The laptops are intended to complement the mission’s shelter, recovery, workforce-training and professional-development services. Founded in 1923, the Christian nonprofit serves people experiencing homelessness across Whatcom County.

Disclaimer: Andy Colley is a senior director and copywriter for Comcast NBCUniversal in the Pacific Northwest.