Overview

Blanchet House is fundraising to open Bethanie’s Room, an overnight emergency women’s shelter offering safety and support to those experiencing homelessness and crisis in Portland. The shelter is privately funded through the generosity of Blanchet House’s donors, without financial support from the City of Portland or Multnomah County.

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 nighttime 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. Blanchet House had previously explored leasing a different location in Southwest Portland (the building formerly St. Stephens Episcopal Church), but pivoted after determining the site would not allow for the shelter model we envisioned. 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 nighttime shelter. We’re committed to fostering a safe and welcoming environment and will work closely with the City of Portland to support a positive experience for everyone. Community engagement will remain at the heart of our efforts. Please note that Bethanie’s Room is privately operated by Blanchet House and funded by compassionate donors. While the City of Portland and Multnomah County are supportive, they are not involved in the planning or funding of this initiative.

• A mailer will be distributed to residential and commercial neighbors near the new overnight shelter to provide information and offer an opportunity for questions. (May 31 by invitation at The Triple Lindy, as space is limited.)
• A community meeting is being planned (TBD due to space), with the location and date to be determined.

We want our community to feel proud of what we’re building and are committed to creating a model shelter—safe, welcoming, and well-managed, both inside and out. For a timely response, please direct questions to info@blanchethouse.org.

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. At the time, there were no overnight emergency women’s shelters in NW Portland. 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 have already secured $1.5 million 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 and addiction. 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.