Overview
Blanchet House is fundraising to open Bethanie’s Room, an overnight emergency women’s shelter offering safety and support to those experiencing homelessness in Portland.
The Challenge
Four out of 10 unsheltered people in Portland are women, yet their shelter needs remain shockingly underserved. Currently, a woman in need of a safe place to sleep has access to only one emergency shelter. All other shelters have wait lists, forcing most women to sleep on the streets where they are vulnerable to violence and exploitation. The absence of adequate, same-day shelter options leaves women experiencing homelessness with nowhere to turn during their most desperate hours. The need for immediate action is clear.
“Right now, I sleep in a doorway or walk around all night. It would feel a lot safer in a shelter,” shared Kasie, a guest of Blanchet House’s free cafe.
Blanchet’s Vision for Change
In response to the senseless suffering faced by women experiencing homelessness, Blanchet House is expanding its services to open a dedicated women’s shelter. Bethanie’s Room will serve as an emergency overnight shelter designed specifically for women.
The shelter will provide:
- A Safe Haven A secure and welcoming space accommodating up to 75 women each night.
- Essential Resources Food, hygiene supplies, bathrooms, and a supportive atmosphere staffed exclusively by women to ensure safety and compassion.
- Pathways to Stability Partnerships with peer organizations to connect women with healthcare, counseling, and housing opportunities.
The Space
We are in the process of purchasing a building in NW Portland to house Bethanie’s Room. When we have closed on the sale, we will announce the location and engage the neighboring community. The costs related to renovations and trauma-informed updates are included in our total estimate for this project.
Community Engagement
Blanchet House is excited to engage with our neighbors as we prepare to open our new women’s shelter. We’re committed to fostering a safe, welcoming environment, and will be working closely with the City of Portland to support a positive experience for everyone. Community engagement will remain at the heart of our efforts.
- A mailer will be sent to residential and commercial neighbors within 1,000 ft. of the new overnight shelter to provide information and a link to further resources. (TBD)
- A community meeting is being planned, with the location and date to be determined based on the closing terms of the building sale.
About Bethanie
Bethanie’s Room is named in memory of a beloved client who struggled with mental health and lost her life while unhoused in 2024. Her family remembers her as an artist, singer, and musician with a degree in music therapy. Our community hopes to honor her legacy by providing safe, supportive shelter to prevent women from being forced to sleep outside, in harm’s way.
“My hope for Bethanie‘s Room would be that women experiencing difficult times would have a place where they can feel safe and find renewed hope,” writes Bethanie’s dad.
Bethanie as a teen in an undated photo from her family.
The Funding
The total estimated cost to purchase a building and launch our new emergency women’s shelter is $3 million. Thanks to the incredible support of our Board of Directors, we already have $1.5 million committed from reserved funds to bring this vision to life. As of early May, generous donors have contributed nearly $200,000, leaving $1.3 million to go.
To financially support Bethanie’s Room, contact Steve Cook at scook@blanchethouse.org or 503-241-4340 ext. 103.
About Blanchet House
For more than 70 years, Blanchet House has been serving Portlanders challenged by poverty. Its name has become synonymous with compassionate care and life-giving hope through its hot meals program, transitional residential programs, peer support resources, and a welcoming community.
