TPI along with the city’s Joint Office for Homeless Services turned a former Greyhound bus station located at 550 NW Sixth Ave. into a 90-bed winter shelter. Local news affiliate KGW reports that the Downtown Physical Distancing Winter Shelter will prioritize those 55 and older, disabled people, and veterans. It will focus on getting people off the street in Old Town Chinatown where Blanchet House is located at 310 NW Glisan.

“Blanchet House is proud to provide meals to peer agencies and shelters during the pandemic,” says Blanchet House Executive Director, Scott Kerman. “Providing breakfast and dinner to the new winter shelter, just two blocks away is an ideal opportunity to further our mission to provide nutritious meals to our houseless neighbors.”

Willamette Week reports that the former bus station has been vacant since September 2019. The owner granted a short-term lease for the building, which at 30,000-square-feet will allow a large number of people to sleep and gather while maintaining a safe physical distance.

In addition to providing meals to the new winter homeless shelter, Blanchet House has been delivering meals to Portland’s three emergency outdoor shelters constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABOUT BLANCHET HOUSE: Blanchet House is a nonprofit organization serving the communities of Multnomah and Yamhill counties. They offer hot meals to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity as well as operating two life-saving shelter programs that offer a path out of homelessness.

MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Showers jshowers@blanchethouse.org