Overview

Blanchet House is fundraising to open Bethanie’s Room, a new emergency overnight shelter offering safety and support to women 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.

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 to house Bethanie’s Room in SW Portland. The costs related to renovations and trauma-informed updates are included in our total estimate for this project.

About Bethanie

Bethanie’s Room is named in memory of a beloved Blanchet House meal guest 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 preventing women from being forced to sleep outside.

The Funding

Blanchet House estimates the first-year cost of launching Bethanie’s Room to be $1,000,000. This includes building renovations, hiring and training support staff, and purchasing the supplies necessary to ensure the shelter’s success.

A generous family bequest provided seed funding of $100,000, and additional contributions have already been pledged by individuals, foundations, businesses, and other partners.

To financially support Bethanie’s Room, contact Steve Cook at scook@blanchethouse.org or 503-241-4340 ext. 103. 

About Blanchet House

Blanchet House has been serving Portlanders facing housing insecurity in the heart of our city. Through decades of dedication, Blanchet House has become synonymous with compassionate care and life-giving hope through hot meals, emergency aid, shelter, resources, and a welcoming community.