When most of us lie down to sleep, we do so behind locked doors, under a roof, and with a sense of security. But for people experiencing homelessness, nighttime brings fear, discomfort, and vulnerability. For women living unsheltered, nighttime is especially scary and the most distressing time of day. Sleep isn’t just hard to come by, but it can be dangerous.

Safety Takes Priority Over Rest

For people who have found themselves forced to sleep outside, the dark and isolation of night bring a greater risk of assault, harassment, or theft. Women, in particular, are at high risk of sexual violence. They may avoid sleep or isolate themselves in hidden areas in an attempt to stay safe.

“Right now, I walk around all night. It would feel a lot safer in a shelter,” shared Kasie, a woman experiencing homelessness in Portland, OR.

Some women pair up with others, stay in less-than-ideal relationships for safety, form informal groups, or stay in public places that are well-lit to lessen risk. But even then, the stress of staying alert prevents deep, restorative sleep required for good health.

Lack of regular sleep can lead to health issues like a weakened immune system, poor mental health, and poor decision-making. A lack of sleep can even lengthen someone’s homelessness by making it harder to access services, attend appointments, or advocate for needs.

Reliable access to a good night’s rest, food, and hygiene is critical for someone to tackle the complex challenges of finding housing and resources. We’ve all likely experienced a difficult day after a lack of rest.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a lack of sleep weakens your immune system, making you more likely to get sick and slower to recover. During sleep, your body produces protective proteins called cytokines, which are especially important when you’re fighting infection or stress. Without enough rest, your body makes fewer of them.

The Lack of Shelter Beds for Women

Most emergency shelters are not designed with the specific needs of women in mind, and beds for single women are limited. On the west side of Portland, there is currently only one women’s shelter that doesn’t require a referral, the Salvation Army’s SAFES. Requiring a referral to access shelter can be a life-threatening barrier because it means having access to a phone or computer during business hours. Women must have access to shelters where they can sleep without having to plan ahead.

Because men make up the majority of people experiencing homelessness, 69% according to Multnomah County’s 2023 Point-in-Time Count, shelters are often designed and funded to meet their needs, leaving women with fewer options. In some cases, women avoid co-ed shelters altogether after experiencing or hearing about unsafe conditions and harassment. The result is that many women choose to stay outside.

Constant Movement Leads to Day Sleeping

Many women are forced to “sleep with one eye open,” always ready to move in case they are bothered or told to relocate by security. It’s not uncommon to witness people experiencing homelessness sleeping during the day because they weren’t able to sleep at night safely. Some individuals may use drugs, particularly stimulants like methamphetamine, to stay awake at night. This can lead to addiction exacerbating an already difficult life of being homeless.

“I don’t go anywhere by myself. I don’t feel safe,” said Melissa, who’s sleeping in a small tent with her partner in Portland. “I’ve heard what happens to women out here.”

For women who’ve experienced trauma, which is likely everyone who’s unhoused, their body is in a state of hypervigilance to keep them safe. Even when exhausted, their bodies can remain on high alert, making rest elusive or impossible.

A Homeless Shelter is More Than a Bed

Providing easy access to overnight shelter is more than just a place to sleep, it’s a place to feel safe. It’s a place to connect with others rather than remain isolated. Sleep is not a luxury, it’s a basic human need. Until all people have a safe place to sleep, we must keep working to remove the barriers that keep them awake at night.

Learn more about Blanchet House’s plan to open Bethanie’s Room, an emergency nighttime shelter for women. 

–by Julie Showers

The post Why Homeless Women Can’t Sleep at Night appeared first on Blanchet House.

It’s time to retire the word “nonprofit” and adopt language that reflects the true identity and impact of social impact and public benefit organizations.

In the late 1960s, as it struggled to stand out in a cola-dominated market, 7-Up launched a wildly successful campaign by defining itself as what it wasn’t: The Un-Cola.  The strategy worked for 7-Up, but as a long-term brand identity, defining yourself by what you’re not is rarely effective. And yet, that’s exactly what many organizations in our tax-exempt human services sector continue to do. We call ourselves nonprofits, a name that literally describes what we aren’t.No one’s quite sure where the term “nonprofit” originated, but there are a few reasons it stuck. Funders, policymakers, and institutions commonly use it in contracts, grants, and legislation, so organizations adopt the term to stay aligned. Many avoid using the term “charity” because it can carry outdated or patronizing connotations by implying pity or dependency rather than empowerment and partnership.

Somewhere along the way, it replaced the word “charity” and became shorthand for “not-for-profit, intended to distinguish mission-driven organizations from for-profit corporations that return earnings to shareholders. Unfortunately, the term has also contributed to a harmful misconception: that it’s somehow wrong or even illegal for these organizations to have surplus revenue.

In reality, a well-run social impact organization must generate more revenue than expenses. That surplus allows us to reinvest in programs, sustain operations during lean periods, and build reserve funds for emergencies. Having a positive bottom line is not just acceptable—it’s essential.

It may surprise you to know that the IRS tax code (501(c)(3)), which governs tax-exempt organizations, rarely even uses the word “nonprofit.” It appears just three times, and mostly about specific types of health care and insurance pooling organizations. The label “nonprofit” isn’t imposed by law. It’s something we’ve chosen to call ourselves.

And that means we can choose differently.

Inspired by Romanita Hairston, the dynamic CEO of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, I’m committing to stop using “nonprofit” as our primary identifier. Instead, I’ll use language that reflects what we are: social impact, public benefit, and human service organizations.

That’s exactly what Blanchet House of Hospitality is. We offer dignity to people in need. We feed, clothe, and shelter those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and neglect. We create spaces of hope and healing for communities burdened by generational trauma and systemic exclusion.

And our work, like that of countless other social impact organizations, is economically significant too. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, these organizations employ 12.3 million people in the U.S. While they may be tax-exempt, their employees are not—and their wages generate substantial tax revenue. These organizations also spend nearly $1 trillion annually on goods and services, fueling local economies across the country.

But the true impact of our work can’t be captured in dollars alone. From frontline disaster response to long-term community care, social impact organizations save lives, offer second chances, and transform futures.

We are not defined by what we’re not. We are builders, healers, advocates, and changemakers. It’s time our language caught up with our mission.

The post It’s Time to Retire the Word ‘Nonprofit’  appeared first on Blanchet House.

Gardening and addiction recovery have a lot in common. Both take time, care, commitment, and the right environment to grow and heal. This connection is proven every day at Blanchet Farm in Oregon, where residents in recovery build skills, reconnect with the land, and grow nourishing food through gardening. 

We strive to offer opportunities for hands-on work outdoors while also being thoughtful stewards of the land we’re entrusted with. 

Blanchet Farm residents built raised beds for the garden.

Gardening offers people a way to experience and take part in recovery. Planting seeds, caring for growing plants, and harvesting food can be both healing and deeply symbolic for those working to rebuild their lives. It also provides a meaningful sense of purpose and accomplishment. 

“I find peace in the garden and I always have,” says W.D., a current Blanchet Farm resident. “I love being outside and working on something. You learn a lot of valuable skills along with it. You also get an amazing return.”

The vegetable garden at Blanchet Farm is well underway thanks to the leadership of a current resident with a green thumb. So far this spring, residents have planted greens, carrots, radishes, and onions, just to name a few. And several varieties of tomatoes are already starting to perk up around custom-built trellises. 

The first crop of radishes was sent to Blanchet House to be used for meals. 

Blanchet Farm is blessed with 62 acres in Carlton, and we strive to be thoughtful stewards of the land. This means working to improve current practices as well as implementing small-scale sustainable agriculture techniques.  

Permaculture and Sustainable Practices

Looking ahead, Blanchet Farm is establishing a perennial foodscape in partnership with Edible Landscapes of Yamhill County. The design will be guided by the permaculture ethics of Earth care, people care, and future care.  

In a permaculture food forest plants work together in tree guilds to help each other grow and thrive. The fruits and vegetables planted will return year after year and are low maintenance, so the crops will be self-sustaining and provide for current and future residents. 

James Vander Meide and Vicki Gunn of Edible Landscapes collaborated on the design for the Blanchet Farm food forest design. Both individuals have certificates in permaculture design.

Additionally, employing conservation best practices results in rainwater retention and erosion control. Soil-building methods, such as thoughtful use of companion plants, mulch, and cover crops, lead us into a regenerative system that not only feeds people but helps heal the earth.  

“On the human side, the data is clear that gardening has a host of therapeutic benefits. The people working in this food forest will see mental, emotional, and social regeneration. We are thrilled to collaborate with Blanchet Farm to bring this food forest to life,” writes Charlene Doland, the president of Edible Landscapes. 

Ultimately, with the Blanchet Farm garden and food forest, we hope to nurture and enrich the lives of our residents while cultivating a healthier landscape for years to come. 

Ways to Support Blanchet Farm’s Gardening Initiatives

• Visit the McMinnville Farmers Market. Residents will be harvesting crops from the garden to sell at the Blanchet Farm booth on May 29, June 26, and July 24.
• Donate plant starts for the food forest. Email Gabby at gthuillier@blanchethouse.org for the plant list.
• Email Michael at mseid@blanchethouse.org to inquire about group volunteer opportunities at the farm.

The post Blanchet Farm Uses Gardening to Heal People and the Land appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Scott Kerman, Executive Director

I recently discovered the remarkable M.F.K. Fisher, often described as one of the greatest food writers of the 20th century. But to simply call her a “food writer” feels inadequate—something the New York Times captured beautifully in 1991:

“Calling M.F.K. Fisher… a food writer is a lot like calling Mozart a tunesmith.”

What drew me in was one of her most iconic reflections on food writing:

“It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot think straightly of one without the others. So it happens that when I write about hunger, I am really writing about love and the hunger for it, and warmth and the love of it and the hunger for it … and then the warmth and richness and fine reality of hunger satisfied … and it is all one.”

Fisher’s insight resonates deeply with what we do at Blanchet House. Her understanding of food as more than sustenance—as love, as security, as connection—captures the heart of our mission.

A volunteer serves a meal to guests in Blanchet House’s free cafe in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Every meal at Blanchet is served with intention. Volunteers greet guests at the host stand and escort them to a table. A hot plate of food is placed before them with a kind word. Volunteers pour drinks with care. Tables are cleaned and reset with respect for the next person who will sit there. It’s not just a meal—it’s a moment of dignity.

I often say that people fall in love with volunteering at Blanchet House because serving a meal to someone in need is an incredibly intimate act. Little did I know I was echoing Fisher herself, who once wrote:

“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.”

We take that sentiment to heart. At Blanchet, we do not serve lightly. We serve with mindfulness and reverence, knowing that our guests often arrive carrying the weight of trauma, hardship, and profound loneliness. That understanding guides our approach—we serve with dignity, because every guest possesses it innately.

Cookbook author and food critic Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher is shown in her office at her new home in Sonoma, Calif., April 28, 1971. (Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew)

And like Fisher, we believe that food can carry with it more than calories. It can carry love. It can carry security. These are things our guests long for as deeply as they long for a hot meal. They come not only to satisfy hunger, but to feel seen, welcomed, and safe.

Blanchet House is, above all, a house of hospitality. That word means everything to us: warmth, kindness, generosity, and compassion.

This week is National Volunteer Week—a time to celebrate the incredible individuals who make our work possible. Without our volunteers, we couldn’t serve more than 1,000 plates of food a day, or distribute clothing, sack lunches, care kits, and the countless small kindnesses that mean so much.

It’s also a week to invite others to join us, especially anyone who might be feeling a lack of connection, purpose, or warmth in their own life. Volunteer work isn’t just about giving. It’s about receiving, too. Because what better way to fill your own cup than by offering a warm meal, a cup of coffee, or a kind word to someone who needs it?

Come join us. Learn how you can volunteer here.

The post Soulful Work, What It Means to Volunteer  appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Scott Kerman

As the Executive Director of Blanchet House, I see the realities of homelessness and housing insecurity in Portland every day. While we all agree that permanent housing solutions are essential, I must emphasize that basic supportive services like food, hygiene, medical care, and social connection are just as critical. These services are lifelines, offering immediate relief while helping people take the first steps toward stability and self-sufficiency. 

The Reality of Homelessness in Portland 

Portland’s homelessness crisis is driven by rising housing costs, economic instability, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. While we must provide more affordable housing, the reality is that many individuals are not yet in a position to secure or maintain stable housing. Without easy access to food, clean clothing, showers, and medical care, they cannot begin to focus on rebuilding their lives. 

At Blanchet House, we serve more than 1,000 free meals each day. For many of our guests, our cafe is their sole source of food for the day. It’s not just about food, though. It’s about dignity, safety, and survival. Providing necessities is the foundation upon which people can begin to address larger challenges. 

A volunteer serves a meal to guests in Blanchet House’s free cafe in downtown Portland, Oregon.

Supportive Services Help Prevent Homelessness

Organizations like Blanchet House are on the front lines, offering direct aid to those in need. Filling the gap in our social safety net.  In addition to meals and supplies, Blanchet House employs highly trained staff who help people access shelter, housing, rehab, and more. Without our programs, individuals living unsheltered or at risk of eviction are left even more vulnerable to violence, illness, and despair. 

Supportive services are also preventative. Blanchet support specialists can connect people to critical aid and care to mitigate a personal crisis. Without these interventions, more people will fall into chronic homelessness, requiring far more intensive and costly services later. 

The Need for Continued and Expanded Support 

Despite their proven effectiveness, many of the services we provide face funding uncertainties amid shifting policy priorities and budget cuts. In fact, Blanchet House will not receive funding for its food and supportive services in the forthcoming Multnomah County budget, a loss of more than $400,000. Even so, Blanchet House cannot afford to turn away from providing these essential programs. The community we serve cries out for us to do more, not less. Blanchet House, then, must continue to invest in supportive services. And since we cannot rely on public funding to help, we must call upon our generous community of donors and supporters.  

A woman lies on the ground. (stock photo)

A Complex Problem Requires Diverse Solutions 

The homelessness crisis in Portland is complex, and no single solution will fix it overnight. However, continuing and expanding supportive services is a crucial piece to solving this puzzle. Ensuring that people have access to food, hygiene, and medical care can mean the difference between languishing on the street to being on a path toward stability. Supporting these essential services is not just an act of compassion—it is a necessary investment in the well-being and safety of our entire community. 

Please donate to fill the gap left by county budget decisions so we can do more, not less. 

The post Supportive Day Center Services Essential to Ending Homelessness appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Scott Kerman 

In the musical Fiddler on the Roof, there is a great scene where Motel the Tailor tries to convince Tevye to allow his daughter Tzeidel and Motel to marry. This is not something Tevia wants to do, and he shouts at Motel, “You are just a poor tailor, Motel!” Motel shouts back, with more assertiveness than he has probably ever said anything in his life before, “I may be only a poor tailor, Reb Tevya, but even a poor tailor deserves some happiness!” 

A guest smiles while a volunteer serves them in Blanchet House’s cafe. Photo by Christine Dong.

This line, simple yet profound, carries a powerful message. It speaks to a universal truth: that every person, regardless of their wealth, status, or situation, deserves happiness and fulfillment. And this is just as true for those experiencing homelessness. 

In our society, homelessness often strips people of their dignity, their sense of self-worth, and their hope. For many, it can feel like they are invisible. But the reality, of course, is that these individuals are human beings with dreams, feelings, and the capacity to experience joy, just like anyone else.  

Happiness and joy matter in homeless services for many reasons. 

Happiness Improves Mental Health 

First and foremost, happiness is tied to mental health. Imagine waking up every day, unsure of where you will sleep that night, feeling disconnected from society, and constantly struggling to meet your basic needs. The emotional toll is immense, and often, these issues are compounded by the stress and trauma of poor living conditions. 

At Blanchet House, we find ways to promote happiness and create a safe space where people can begin to rebuild their sense of self-worth.  

Positive mental health and emotional well-being are critical for a person’s ability to accept and benefit from assistance. Happiness is not an abstract concept; it can mean the difference between someone feeling hopeless and someone finding the strength to take the next step toward stability. 

Happiness Builds Community 

Secondly, happiness is essential for creating a community and a sense of belonging. Isolation and loneliness are terrible consequences of homelessness and housing insecurity. But happiness is contagious. When we promote joy, kindness, and human connection in our homeless services, we not only improve the individual experience, but we also create a collective sense of community. Positive interactions and a culture of kindness can help transform a life that feels bleak into one filled with hope and shared humanity.  

When we bring joy to people’s lives, we also reduce stigma. Homelessness can be deeply isolating, and the judgment and dehumanization many experience only reinforce their sense of disconnection. By promoting happiness, we challenge the negative stereotypes that often surround homelessness. We remind everyone, both inside and outside the system, that each person matters. 

A donor wrote “SMILE!” on a care kit containing basic items like bath wipes, a rain poncho, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Happiness Builds Self-Worth 

In addition, promoting happiness can be a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of homelessness. Studies have shown that when people feel a sense of purpose, hope, and self-worth, they are more likely to take steps toward addiction recovery and self-sufficiency. If we want to break the cycles of poverty and homelessness, we need to give people the emotional support and encouragement that fosters motivation. Happiness fuels action, and action leads to change. 

How To Promote Happiness in Homeless Services 

But how do we begin to promote happiness within homeless services? It starts with a shift in perspective. Instead of focusing solely on the hardships and deficiencies of those experiencing homelessness, we must take a more holistic approach. An approach that acknowledges their humanity, their potential, and their right to experience joy. This approach requires empathy, creativity, and a commitment to seeing the whole person. 

I’m proud to say that Blanchet House & Farm does much to promote happiness in our homeless services. During our meal services in the cafe, we offer live musical performances, special desserts, and holiday craft activities. We know that many of our guests delight in the colorful artwork that often adorns the sack lunches donated by supporters. Some have told us that they use the lunch bags to decorate their living spaces. 

Our nonprofit partners also assist in our efforts to bring joy. Street Books set up their mobile library outside the cafe every Thursday so that guests can check out books to read.  

In our residential programs, we know how important fun and happy experiences are for well-being. Many participants struggle to find hobbies and joy in sobriety after years of addiction and substance abuse. We provide social and recreational activities, such as hikes in the summer and tickets to local sporting events and performances. We even have a dedicated fund for these activities—the Erik Schram Resident Recreation Fund—named in memory of our former resident and staff member who passed away in 2021. Erik took great joy in our commitment to creating fun experiences for residents, and we know our continued efforts would make him proud.  

A Peer Support Specialist comforts a guest at Blanchet House.

Everyone Deserves Happiness 

Motel the Tailor was right. Everyone deserves happiness. Happiness should not be an afterthought but a priority. Because when we foster joy in homeless services, hope and dignity follow.  Creating opportunities for happiness helps restore the full humanity of those we serve, reminding them that joy and fulfillment are still within their reach. 

Read more by Scott Kerman and learn how you can invite him to speak at an event.

The post We Can Promote Happiness in Homeless Services  appeared first on Blanchet House.

Radical hospitality is an ideology that goes beyond traditional notions of being polite or welcoming. The goal of our services is to meet people where they are, offering immediate assistance with minimal hurdles, which can include providing shelter, food, clothing, and human connection.

This approach recognizes that people experiencing homelessness and poverty often face complex challenges. Radical hospitality aims to provide support in a non-judgmental environment to foster trusting relationships.

From serving nourishing meals to helping people find safe housing, the combined efforts of our staff, volunteers, and supporters have made a real difference and touched countless lives. Let’s look at the year in numbers!

Guests enjoy a meal in Blanchet House’s cafe.

Feeding the Hungry

402,876 Meals Served

We’re proud to serve an average of more than 1,100 meals every day to those in need. Whether it’s for our residents or guests, feeding so many people three times a day often feels like a miracle—especially for those visiting our café for the first time. It’s all thanks to you, our community, making sure no one goes hungry.

570,000 Pounds of Good Food Rescued

We’re proud to have rescued 285 tons of quality, unexpired food, helping to reduce waste and ensure that our neighbors facing hunger have access to nutritious meals. While buying food is still necessary, rescuing food plays a huge role in our work, is essential to our mission, and allows us to share with our partners.

Referrals to Shelter, Housing, and More

In December 2024 alone, Peer Support Specialist Duke meaningfully engaged with 313 guests of our cafe. He provided 117 people with shelter referrals, 51 with housing connections, and 45 with referrals to detox or medical care. His tireless work showcases Blanchet House’s commitment to holistic care.

A Peer Support Specialist shares shelter information with a guest at Blanchet House.

Residential Programs

Blanchet House in Old Town: 117 Men Given Refuge

• Our transitional housing programs continue to offer men respite, community, and support to improve their lives.
• We provided a total of 6,087 nights of shelter in our Old Town program.
• The average resident stayed with us for 201 days before moving on to housing or other solutions.
• We ended 2024 with a full house of 45 residents.

Blanchet Farm in Carlton

• 24 men found refuge at the farm in 2024, with the average staying with us for 105 days before moving on.
• We’re beginning the year with 14 residents and a growing and thriving community.

A volunteer clears a plate in Blanchet House’s cafe.

Volunteer Contributions

26,888 Volunteer Hours

We saw a 5% increase in volunteer hours from 2023, showing just how much people want to aid their neighbors in need. Volunteers are truly the heart of everything we do, making each meal possible.

Blanchet House and Farm’s positive impact is only possible because of support from YOU. Together, we’re building a more compassionate community where hunger, homelessness, and addiction are addressed with dignity, care, and hope. Thank you for being part of the solution.

The post A Big Year for Radical Hospitality appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Julie Showers

Mandy Brumbach’s older brother, Joe, battled addiction and homelessness for many years, a struggle that tragically culminated in his death at the age of 41. She graciously shared his story to remind us that behind every person we see on the street gripped by addiction, there are often family and friends who are forever grieving their slow painful descent into isolation.

A young Joe Brumbach proudly holds a fish he caught.

Growing up in Twin Falls, Idaho, Mandy and Joe were close despite hardships. Their father suffered from severe mental illness creating a difficult home environment and difficult relational trauma. But for Joe, life was made harder by the rejection he experienced after coming out as gay at 18, something he’d known since childhood. Raised in a conservative Catholic community, he felt alienated and unsupported, which marked the beginning of his emotional and mental health struggles. Seeking a place where he belonged, Joe moved frequently—from Idaho to Portland to California and even Las Vegas—but the community support he desperately needed remained elusive.

“The way I see it is it was a downhill spiral when he came out as gay in Idaho. That rejection severed his sense of self,” Mandy recalls. “He couldn’t find the community he desired in our town so he moved, searching for where he belonged. As he started meeting new people, he also started trying drugs.”

His vulnerability and naivety left him susceptible to exploitation.

“What he wanted more than anything was to find somebody to love. He wanted to be held. He told me once, ‘Nobody has held me in years,’” Mandy said.

Mandy recalls Joe as a kind and creative soul who loved animals, dreamed of becoming a movie director, and shared a close bond with his sister.

“He was the most tender loving, caring, teachers’ favorite, a good student, a good person, and was passionate about film his whole life. We were super close. Our parents divorced when we were young. I saw our lives as him being dealt a harder hand of cards,” Mandy said.

Joe Brumbach (left) with sister Mandy in front of the family Christmas tree.

The Harsh Reality of Homelessness

Life on the streets was brutal for Joe, his mental health deteriorated, and he experienced many arrests and hospital stays. There were moments of hope, such as a year-long inpatient treatment program and group home stays, but stability was fleeting. The trauma of homelessness left him in a constant state of fear and paranoia, often leading to combative behavior. This protective defense mechanism Mandy believes masked the pain of a deeply wounded individual.

“Inside, these are wounded people who want safety and security but that’s hard to see while they are living in these big adult bodies,” Mandy shared. “One small act of kindness toward this community can go a long way. Treating them with respect and dignity can go a long way. Smiling or responding when they are asking for something. Waving or giving them space when it seems like they need it.”

Despite his struggles, Joe retained his hopeful and caring nature. Mandy recalls how he would still call her from the streets to ensure she was okay.

The Importance of Compassion and Community Support

Mandy believes that help and healing start with understanding and compassion. She urges people to look beyond the surface behavior of those struggling with addiction and homelessness.

“These are not bad people. They are people who have lived through bad circumstances,” she emphasized.

Joe’s journey inspired Mandy to become a counselor and educator. She joined an organization, Shazaam PDX, whose goal is to empower children and adolescents and create safe spaces for all children, including those exploring their identities which she hopes will keep others from facing the kind of isolation her brother endured.

Joe Braumbach (left), cousin Jillian (center), and Mandy (right) enjoyed a day downtown Portland, OR.

His Memory is a Blessing to Others

Mandy and her family have taken steps to support those in need in honor of Joe. They established a memorial fund that has led to the implementation of an LGBTQ+ youth program with Southern Idaho Pride. The family also generously supports Blanchet House’s services to help others in similar circumstances.

“We’ve always wanted to help people like my brother,” Mandy says.

In an odd twist of fate, Mandy found herself at Blanchet House’s Pride event in 2024, which involved attendees helping to set a new meatball eating record.

“Meatballs remind me of my brother. Growing up we loved Jim Carry’s humor in the movie The Mask when he would say, “That’s a spicy meatball!’ We would say that to each other all the time,” Mandy fondly recalls. “So, meatballs and pride? What a great way to honor my brother.”

Through Blanchet House and her ongoing efforts, Mandy ensures that Joe’s life inspires change, fosters understanding, and, most importantly, spreads the message that kindness and respect can transform lives.

The post A Brother’s Struggle With Addiction and Homelessness appeared first on Blanchet House.

I believe it’s customary for an end-of-year letter to look back at the year that was, but I’d rather look forward and prepare for what lies ahead. As you know, Blanchet House & Farm exists to alleviate suffering and promote hope for people struggling with homelessness, hunger, addiction, and poverty. I must report that the need for our good work has never been greater. Every day, more people come to us seeking a wide variety of aid.

Because of you, Blanchet House feeds, clothes, shelters, and heals thousands of people. What’s more, the aid we provide together profoundly expresses our shared humanity. By serving with compassion and without judgment, we affirm our guests’ dignity and remind them—and ourselves—that things can get better.

There is hope, even as our community continues to face a lack of affordable housing and centers for mental health and drug intervention services. As leaders work toward solutions to this humanitarian crisis, Blanchet House & Farm plays an important role in bridging the gaps in available services. Fifty men stay with us at Blanchet House and 24 at the farm at a time. That’s 74 communities of family and friends who are now healing and receiving renewed hope for their loved ones.

People like Greg (pictured above) who recently completed his stay at Blanchet Farm where he regained sobriety, learned new skills like beekeeping, and gained the confidence he needed to get back to his community.

“I completed what I set out to do at the farm. I’m sober and ready for the next step,” Greg said. “I’m moving to a sober living house and got a job driving a bus. Thank you all for your involvement in my recovery.”

In the year ahead, we will be able to help more people like Greg connect to emergency shelters, mental health support, and addiction recovery services. More than serving meals, we’re getting people the resources they need to survive and thrive.

As we approach winter—a cold, wet, and torturous season for the houseless people we serve—we need your help to offer a warm cafe, nutritious meals, and most importantly hope. A gift from you shows our guests that you believe they are worthy of compassion, and that it’s never too late to restore their lives. We can’t do this humanitarian work without you, so please give today, and if you’ve already given your end-of-year gift we thank you.

With deepest gratitude,

Scott Kerman
Executive Director, Blanchet House & Farm

P.S. Don’t miss us in Willamette Week’s Give!Guide campaign where you can stretch your donation even further and take advantage of some great incentives and prizes.

The post What Lies Ahead? Need for Homeless Support Services appeared first on Blanchet House.

Blanchet House staff accept the award for one of the most admired nonprofits in Oregon. Pictured from left to right: Heidi Janowski, Steve Cook, Meg Stark, and Scott Kerman.

Business leaders chose Blanchet House as one of the top three Most Admired Nonprofit in Oregon on Portland Business Journal‘s 2024 list. We are honored that our work to alleviate suffering and offer a path out of homelessness has been recognized. At Blanchet House and Blanchet Farm, we strive to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of those we serve each day.

The post Blanchet House Voted Most Admired Nonprofit by Portland Business Journal appeared first on Blanchet House.