Unity Care NW is proud to share that our Chief Strategy Officer, Chris Kobdish, will be accepting the Collaboration Award at the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center’s 22nd Annual Peace Builder Awards on behalf of The Way Station.
This award recognizes the collective efforts of many partners who spent more than seven years working to bring The Way Station from idea to reality. Together, Unity Care NW, Opportunity Council, PeaceHealth, and countless community supporters persevered through challenges, secured funding, and found solutions to complex hurdles — all with a shared goal: to create a safe, welcoming place for people experiencing homelessness to access basic needs and supportive services.
When The Way Station opened in November 2024, it became a first-of-its-kind resource in Whatcom County. Guests can access laundry, showers, and restrooms, in the Health & Hygiene Center, operated by Unity Care NW — which also offers walk-in medical and behavioral health services, including substance use counseling. In partnership with Opportunity Council’s Housing Case Managers, guests are supported in finding pathways out of homelessness. The Medical Respite Program, launched in spring 2025 and managed by Opportunity Council in collaboration with PeaceHealth, provides short-term healing space for people discharged from the hospital in need of a safe place to recover.
While this award is about collaboration, it also recognizes Chris’s central role in keeping the vision alive. For the final 4 years of the planning phase, she lead the convening of partners, raised millions of dollars, and worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles — ensuring the project didn’t stall. And just when she was ready to pass the baton, a staffing shift meant she was asked to lead day-to-day operations at The Way Station for Unity Care NW. She stepped in, ensuring that the Health & Hygiene Center would be there to serve those who needed it most.
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center honored The Way Station and its partners with this award, “for the collective efforts to address complex community needs with compassion and collaboration.” Unity Care NW is committed to bringing this same spirit of empathy and teamwork to all of the challenges that stand in the way of a healthier community until everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.
The 22nd Annual Peace Builder Awards will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Bellingham. This inspiring evening will celebrate remarkable individuals, projects, and organizations who are building peace and strengthening community across Whatcom County.
Join us in celebrating! Purchase your tickets here to attend.