A Place to Regain Hope
As a homeless services provider, Blanchet House offers free meals, transitional housing, and a safe community to regain hope.
Meet Diane R.
A year ago, Diane was homeless because of her drug addiction. She came to rely on Blanchet House for food and community. Now in recovery, she volunteers in the cafe serving others who are in the position she once was. As a Peer Support Specialist, Diane is a member of the Old Town InReach Team supporting people struggling with challenges to housing.
“It feels really good to know that I matter because we all want to matter and have a purpose,” Diane shared.
Blanchet House, a homeless social services provider in Old Town Portland, offers prepared meals three times a day, six days a week served restaurant-style by volunteers. Its dependable meal schedule along with the community found there is key to Diane’s progress in maintaining sobriety.
Read more about Diane’s journey.
Meet John A.
John struggled with addiction most of his adult life. After gaining sobriety, he needed a safe place to live surrounded by peer support and accountability. Blanchet House provides him with a room and meals so he can focus on his new job as a truck driver with Pacific Coast Fruit and come home to a safe place.
Blanchet House’s residential program houses up to 45 men. The program is designed to give them time to address issues like sobriety and save money for housing surrounded by a supportive community of peers. The program requires residents to work in the kitchen serving the homeless during the first 90 days of their stay.
“I couldn’t wait to get the dish pit every morning. The work gave me a purpose again,” says John.
