Capital Campaign

The Blanchet House of Hospitality’s current home, which we own, is at NW 4th and Glisan in Old Town. The facility is over 100 years old and is deteriorating. We have worked very hard over the past 57 years to keep the building sound, safe and clean. However, the time has come to build a new facility.

We have been working closely with the Portland Development Commission (PDC), the city of Portland and the Old Town community to figure out the most appropriate place for a new Blanchet . This effort culminated in March of 2009 when Blanchet signed an agreement with PDC. The agreement calls for Blanchet and PDC to exchange land. Blanchet will receive land at the corner of NW 3rd and Glisan. PDC will receive Blanchets current land.
Blanchet will receive almost four times as much land for the new facility. In addition, PDC allocated Blanchet $2 million, in order to start the Capital Campaign for the new facility.

The new facility will be at least three times the size of the current building. The line waiting to eat will be located inside, out of the weather. Seating in the café will at least double, housing will double and there will be space to provide many more services to those in need. The new building will focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. We would to have one of the most “green” non-profit buildings in the country. PDC and the city of Portland have been a tremendous partner in assisting Blanchet to make sure it will continue to provide services for years to come.

The approximate cost of the new facility will be $9 million. Therefore we are beginning a Capital Campaign to raise $7 million beyond the $2 million already provided by PDC. We expect this money to come from several different sources. First, and foremost, is our current donor base of over 1,200 individuals who have supported Blanchet for many years. Secondly, we have applied to and are working with several Trusts and Foundations of varying sizes. We also are applying for various government sustainability grants and energy efficiency credits. Blanchet will also be applying for New Market Tax Credits and ARRA (stimulus package) funding.

If you are interested in contributing our our effort, please use this form to make a pledge.

An exciting part of the Capital Campaign is the Blanchet youth Capital Campaign which will be launched in the summer of 2009. We hope that this campaign will generate hundreds of donations to Blanchet from those who are twenty-six years old or younger. We have already received matching gifts for this portion of the campaign. For more details about the Blanchet Youth Capital Campaign click here.