Our Mission

Our mission is to alleviate suffering and offer hope for a better life by serving essential aid with dignity.

About Us

Blanchet (pronounced Blan-shāy) House is a nonprofit social services organization located in Old Town Portland. We make a difference, one relationship at a time, through food, clothing, and supportive housing programs. We serve anyone who comes to our doors without judgment because we believe everyone deserves dignity, hope, and community. 

Our Charitable Philosophy

In 1952, Blanchet House was founded by a group of University of Portland alumni as a “House of Hospitality” in the model of those established by the Catholic Worker Movement. Although we are not affiliated with any religious organization, the founders were rooted in the Catholic community. Blanchet House’s mission derives from Catholic social teaching principles, including honoring the dignity of every person, offering aid to the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity. Our board and staff include persons of various faiths, and we do not proselytize to our clients or guests.

Meal Program

We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner six days a week in the Founders Cafe. Nutritious hot meals are compassionately served by volunteers. All are welcome to enjoy meals at Blanchet House without judgment. No questions asked.

Clothing Program

Clean clothing, hygiene items, and sleeping essentials are offered during most meal services when available. New and gently used adult-sized clothing is donated by individuals and businesses.

Residential Program

Blanchet House operates two residential programs for men struggling with addiction, unemployment, mental health, housing, or other challenges. Blanchet House and Blanchet Farm are life renewal work programs in which all residents contribute to the community by fulfilling duties in support of operations.

The men living in the Blanchet House program in downtown Portland assist in the kitchen preparing and serving food. The residents staying at Blanchet Farm in Carlton, Oregon maintain the 62-acre farm, including caring for animals, beehives, a woodshop, and gardens.

Our History

Our Commitment to Equity

Blanchet House’s mission and core values embody our commitment to serving anyone in need with dignity and without discrimination or judgment. We recognize that our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are disproportionately impacted by socio-economic injustice.

We recognize that this injustice can lead to housing and food insecurity, creating the need for our programs. These BHH services, then, must exemplify our commitment to equity, ensuring that those most affected by an injustice have the necessary resources to live freely and fairly. BHH’s founding ideals prioritize each individual’s needs in order to meet all people we serve where they are.

Intentional Equity

Our commitment to advancing equity and justice in our community further inspires the BHH staff, volunteers, and board of directors to:

  • Be intentional in our work toward equity and inclusion.
  • Work toward a deeper understanding of the historical, systemic, and contemporary structures and actions of racism and other forms of discrimination, prejudice, and bias.
  • Achieve a great understanding of and work toward correcting our own implicit biases.
  • Continually identify inequities, eliminate barriers, and innovate our practices to better serve our clients’ experiences and needs.
  • Staying engaged in the pursuit of equity and consistently seeking to repair and improve our understanding, practices, and services where we fall short.

Land Acknowledgment

Our Core Values

Hospitality  We welcome everyone into our home with kindness and compassion.

Dignity  We respect the inherent value of everyone inside and outside our organization.

Hope  We foster optimism and the belief that good things can happen when we work together.

Integrity  We are honest, reliable, and trustworthy.

Community  We build relationships and strive toward common goals.

Authenticity  We honor everyone’s right to be their unique self.

Strategic Plan

Blanchet House’s three-year strategic plan was created through an inclusive process involving the Board of Directors, guests served, volunteers, community partners and staff. The goals and strategies reflect an integrated approach to fulfilling our mission as Blanchet House moves forward and continues to meet the needs of many.

Download 2020-2023 Strategic Plan

Coin Collection Can

Look What We Found

Blanchet House co-founder, Jim O’Hanlon Sr., discovered this vintage coin collection can in his basement. In the 1960s, Blanchet House staff put these cans in Portland area bars to raise money to feed and house those in need. Blanchet House has been solely funded by individual donations, business sponsorships, and grants since 1952. We receive no government or archdiocese funding for programs. A small contribution goes a long way at Blanchet House of Hospitality.

Read more history on our 70th Anniversary page

SERVICES

We make a difference, one relationship at a time, through food, clothing, and supportive housing programs.

LEARN

We welcome and serve meals to everyone with compassion and dignity. Join as a guest, a volunteer, a resident, a donor, or a supporter.

GET INVOLVED

There are many people in immediate need of food, clothing, access to hygiene, shelter, community, and hope.

DONATE

Your gift will help stabilize lives by providing meals, transitional housing, and other vital services to vulnerable individuals and families.