The Board of Directors of the Blanchet House continues in the tradition of its founding members who were inspired to start a ‘house of hospitality’ in Portland. This model of charity was influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement of the early 1930s. Blanchet House operates independently but in a communal spirit with other Catholic Worker communities across the US committed to offering “hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken.”

The original members of the Blanchet board were the nine founders. Today, several extended family members of the founders serve on the board alongside a diverse group of compassionate professionals from the community. We are continually seeking qualified and dedicated leaders who share in our mission of service to those impacted by food and housing insecurity as well as mental health and substance abuse challenges.

Our full board meets nearly every month on Monday afternoons, while the committee schedules vary and typically meet every other month. We schedule a half-day retreat twice a year and invite outside speakers in for guidance and professional development. Blanchet House’s annual fundraising event, the Lend a Helping Hand Brunch, takes place in early March.

There are five committees to which our board members can contribute: