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.

Bethanie's Room photo in front of building

The Space

We’ve purchased 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 committed to engaging with our neighbors as we prepare to open Bethanie’s Room, a new women’s nighttime shelter, this October. Our goal is to foster a safe, welcoming environment, and we will work closely with neighborhood stakeholders and the City of Portland to support a positive experience for everyone.

Community engagement is central to our efforts. 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 community meeting was held on May 31 at The Triple Lindy for residential and commercial neighbors near the new overnight shelter. The gathering provided information and offered an opportunity for questions and dialogue.

We want our community to feel proud of what we’re building—a model shelter that is safe, respectful, and well-managed, inside and out. For timely responses, please direct questions to bethaniesroom@blanchethouse.org.

Read our Neighborhood Pledge and find answers to questions about safety and livability below.

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.

“We always thought she would change the world until she ended up with a traumatic brain injury,” wrote Bethanie’s mom Shelley Johnson.

Bethanie struggled with mental health and homelessness, but her parents remember her as a smart and ambitious musician. They shared a list she had written as a teenager, dreaming of her future.

50 Things I’d Like to Do Before I Die (By Bethanie, 
Jan. 8, 1997)

  1. Travel around Europe
  2. Play piano for a Broadway musical
  3. Become wealthy enough to send my parents on a cruise
  4. Own a silver trumpet
  5. Volunteer at 10 shelters for the homeless
  6. Give a large sum of money to an organization helping the poor, disabled, and/or mortally diseased
  7. Go to the Olympics
  8. Get married to someone who shares many of my same interests and philosophies
  9. Go in a submarine in the Pacific
  10. Sing the national anthem at a baseball game

We share this list with you to remind us that the women we serve aren’t so different from those we know. They deserve a safe place to sleep and the chance to live with dignity. Please give today and have your gift matched!

The Funding

Funded entirely by private donors, foundations, and businesses, Bethanie’s Room receives no government support. To financially support Bethanie’s Room, contact Steve Cook at scook@blanchethouse.org or 503-241-4340 ext. 103. 

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About Blanchet House

70+ Years of Service! Blanchet House provides low-barrier meals and essential emergency services to thousands of people each year who turn to us for help. In addition, our two residential programs offer temporary housing to men experiencing homelessness and facing complex challenges such as unemployment, addiction, and the lasting impacts of incarceration. Many residents come directly from the streets or other unstable living situations. The emergency relief we provide is often the first step on a longer journey toward recovery, stability, and renewal.

blanchet house shelter resident Kao

From Unhoused to Housed: 70 Years of Turning Crisis Into Stability

Every day, Blanchet House rescues someone from homelessness. Like Kao, who came to stay with us last year when he was struggling. With the stability of our transitional housing program and team, he moved into an apartment this week! Thanks to your donations, we were able to cover his first month’s rent and deposit, removing a key barrier to housing. This is what your support makes possible! For more than 70 years, Blanchet House has operated transitional housing programs that not only provide a place to sleep but also help people take meaningful steps toward stability and independence.

Bethanie's Room women's shelter portland peer support homeless shelter web

Help Us Open the Doors

  • $500,000 Presenting Sponsor
  • $100,000 Lead Sponsor
  • $50,000 Champion Sponsor
  • $25,000 Dignity Sponsor
  • $10,000 Comfort Sponsor
  • $5,000 Hope Sponsor
  • $2,500 Community Sponsor
  • $1,000 Care Sponsor

Contact Steve Cook at scook@blanchethouse.org or 503.241.4340 x103.

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Get Involved

Join our mailing list to receive updates about volunteer opportunities and supply needs once Bethanie’s Room women’s shelter is open and operational.

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Portrait of a young woman working in charitable foundation and posing while holding box in her hands. Female volunteer in blue uniform looking into the camera while helping in a donation center.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can women access the shelter? 

We will encourage referrals from colleague agencies, but guests may come without a referral. We also will connect with emergency services for potential late-night admissions as needed. 

Who can stay at Bethanie’s Room? 

This gender–expansive shelter welcomes women 18 years and older to stay overnight on a temporary basis. Bethanie’s Room will serve women experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity who are currently underserved and especially vulnerable to violence. 

What will guests have access to in the shelter? 

Shelter guests will have access to a clean sleeping mat or cot with a blanket, hygiene items, snacks and refreshments, and restrooms. Staff will be on hand to ensure safety and security, as well as to help shelter guests who are experiencing a crisis. 

What are the hours of operation? 

The shelter’s overnight operating hours will be announced once staffing is in place. 

What is the shelter’s capacity? 

We will be able to host up to 75 women each night. 

Are children allowed? 

No, Bethanie’s Room is a shelter for adult women at least 18 years of age.  

Are there showers and laundry facilities? 

No, showers and laundry services will not be available. These are not typically a feature of overnight emergency shelters. We will refer women to organizations, like our peers at Rose Haven, who provide these services during the day.  

What is the policy for using substances or alcohol? 

Shelter guests will not be permitted to use substances or consume alcohol in or around the shelter property. Shelter staff will ensure that this policy is enforced. 

Will women be lining up to access the shelter? 

We will discourage guests from lining up throughout the day by establishing clear, consistent timelines for accessing the shelter. These procedures are designed to maintain safety, reduce crowding, ensure a welcoming environment for all, and support neighborhood livability.

How long can guests stay? 

Bethanie’s Room is a temporary night-time emergency shelter, which means guests will not have reserved spaces for extended periods. However, there is no limit on the total number of nights, consecutive or cumulative, a guest may stay. 

How can I help? 

As a program fully managed by a nonprofit, financial donations are needed to operate Bethanie’s Room. We will not receive funding from the city, county, or federal governments. If you’d like to learn more about ways to donate, please contact bethaniesroom@blanchethouse.org. 

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Neighborhood Livability, Safety, and Accountability

Our Neighborhood Pledge

Bethanie’s Room Neighborhood Pledge 

This is our commitment to being thoughtful, responsible neighbors 

At Blanchet House, we believe a safe, healthy, and welcoming neighborhood benefits everyone, including our shelter guests, neighbors, and nearby businesses. We are committed to fostering mutual respect and doing our part to ensure a positive experience for all. 

To that end, Blanchet House will: 

  1. Help create a sense of safety, hospitality, and shared pride in our neighborhood. 
  2. Take responsibility to keep the area around our property clean and free of trash and litter. 
  3. Promptly report any livability concerns to the City of Portland and work with city partners and Portland Street Response to address them in a timely and effective way. 
  4. Employ private security personnel to help maintain a calm, safe, and respectful environment inside and around the shelter. 
  5. Report criminal or suspicious activity to the Portland Police Bureau as appropriate. 
  6. Connect our shelter guests, by name, to partner agencies that provide wraparound services and access to daytime resources. 
  7. Make it easy for neighbors to contact us by providing a dedicated email and phone contact for shelter-related communication. 
  8. Take part in neighborhood meetings to listen, learn, and respond to concerns. 
  9. Set clear expectations for guests around respectful behavior, including understanding that surrounding properties are private and should not be accessed without permission. 
  10. Manage queuing and smoking within the shelter’s fenced and gated parking lot to minimize sidewalk congestion. 
  11. Keep the shelter property closed to guests outside of operating hours, including intake periods, to support neighborhood quiet and safety. 
  12. Be open to new ideas and practices to promote a healthy neighborhood experience. 

We look forward to being a collaborative, respectful, and responsible member of the neighborhood, and we welcome your ideas, feedback, and partnership. 

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We’re committed to being good neighbors

  • Our team will work closely with the city, local law enforcement, and outreach providers to keep the area around the shelter clean, safe, and walkable.  
  • By offering people a safe place to sleep, we lessen the need for tents and makeshift camps on sidewalks and in public spaces. 
  • We will enforce clear rules and expectations for guests. This includes curfews, safety protocols, and zero tolerance for disruptive behavior. 
  • We will provide a Shelter Guest Agreement for our guests that outlines expectations and promotes respect for the surrounding community. 

How will Blanchet House ensure that people will not camp on the sidewalks around the shelter?

The City of Portland and Mayor Wilson have committed to establishing an Engagement Zone around Bethanie’s Room. Blanchet House will partner with the city to actively monitor and manage the area around the shelter. Together, we will work to keep the surrounding sidewalks clean, safe, and accessible by quickly addressing camping and walking hazards with compassion and consistency. While Bethanie’s Room is not a city-run shelter, we will partner with Portland’s outreach teams and shelter program staff. 

What security measures will be in place?

Blanchet House will contract with Echelon Protective Services for security. We have partnered with Echelon at Blanchet House’s Old Town location for four years and are confident in their responsiveness and respectful engagement with guests. We will also coordinate with the Mayor’s Office and Portland Police to ensure that emergency 911 calls are prioritized. Security and safety are top priorities for our shelter guests, staff, and neighbors. We will continuously evaluate and adjust our security measures as needed. 

Who can we contact when we have a concern or question about the shelter?

  • We are committed to listening to community concerns and addressing them thoughtfully. We value feedback and are investing in long-term, collaborative relationships with our neighbors. 
  • Once a neighborhood advisory committee is established with Blanchet House and neighborhood representation, this committee will be an important avenue for communication, feedback, and problem-solving. 
  • Blanchet House will participate in neighborhood stakeholder meetings facilitated by the City of Portland. Blanchet House will also attend NW Neighborhood Association meetings as a member of the neighborhood. 
  • We have established a dedicated email for communications about Bethanie’s Room: bethaniesroom@blanchethouse.org. Multiple staff members will monitor this email. A dedicated phone line for Bethanie’s has not been established yet, but in the meantime, calls can go to our main line 503-241-4340.