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 Many avoid using the term “charity” because it can carry outdated or patronizing connotations by implying pity or dependency rather than empowerment and partnership.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.

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.

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.

What do you think will happen in the local elections on Tuesday? How do you think Portland’s new form of government will be?

I’ve been asked these questions a lot over the past few months. My answer is, “I don’t know.”

One thing I’ve learned over the past five years is the folly of making predictions. Better to focus on what I know will happen.

What I do know is that too many people will wake up Wednesday morning hungry, cold, despondent, and desperate. What I know is Wednesday will be another day of suffering for too many people in our community, especially those challenged by mental illness and addiction. What I know is Wednesday will be yet another day of tremendous affliction for those whose age, infirmary, or disability make life on the streets an unthinkable ordeal.

Rather than predict outcomes I’d rather submit a request. A request that whoever receives the trust of the electorate to lead our city and county join with other leaders in our community to promote meaningful, compassionate opportunities for healing and recovery. Perhaps the one prediction I’m confident of making is that such progress won’t happen unless our civic leaders work collaboratively and in concert instead of at odds with one another.

Another prediction?

Blanchet House will continue to rely on your support on Wednesday and the days that follow. I hope you will be inspired by whatever the outcome of our local and national elections to lean into serving others who desperately need your help and compassion. Volunteer at our meal services, organize a neighborhood, work, or school drive to collect badly needed winter clothing and other essentials, make sack lunches, or support our expenses by making a gift to Blanchet House’s Give Guide campaign.

Scott Kerman is the Executive Director of Blanchet House. You can invite him to speak here.

The post Beyond Elections, We Need Action to Address Urgent Needs  appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Scott Kerman

Living with multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years has taught me a lot about disability. Since my diagnosis, I have weathered ebbs and flows, experiencing temporary setbacks like bouts of diminished vision, loss of sensation in my feet and legs, impaired mobility and extreme fatigue. I do not use a mobility device so many people would not know that I have this disability.

And in the long-term, local leaders must address the housing needs of our disabled, chronically ill and senior community members with a sustained investment and an intentional plan. We will need legislative support at the state level to ensure accessible and affordable housing – both temporary and permanent.

Until it can provide greater access, the city cannot feasibly meet the “reasonable alternate shelter” standard that the ordinance calls for. This would disappoint all involved, as the city’s intention to clear sidewalks and public spaces to comply with the ADA is an understandable one.

To the city’s credit, the ordinance’s repeated emphasis on “reasonable alternate shelter” speaks to the city’s understanding that homelessness is a very nuanced and individualized experience rather than a monolith. In addition, the draft of the city and county’s recently released Homelessness Response Action Plan recognizes the prevalence of disability among our houseless and housing-insecure community members, as well as the need to tailor our response to their unique needs.

Camping Ban is an Opportunity to Increase Services for Citizens with a Disability

The post Camping Ban, Disability, and Needs of Homeless appeared first on Blanchet House.

Like many people and organizations in our community, Blanchet House has reviewed the Homelessness Response Action Plan put forward by Multnomah County Chair Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. We applaud many elements of this plan and will do our part to help it succeed because if successful, hundreds and maybe thousands of people’s lives will be improved.

Main Objectives of the Plan

Key two-year goals are to:

• Increase the number of adults leaving temporary shelters for permanent housing by 15%.
• Add 1,000 shelter beds.
• Add hundreds more behavioral health beds.
• Ensure that 75% of people in permanent supportive housing retain their housing 24 months after placement.
• Reduce unsheltered homelessness for specific communities, including people of color and those who identify as LGBTQ+
• End all behavior health, health system, or hospital discharges to the street.
• End discharges from corrections settings to the street.
• End homelessness for youth aging out of foster care.
• Increase affordable housing through various ways including regulatory changes and new construction funding sources.

Some community members feel that this plan is ambitious and question whether the targets set forth are realistic. However, I believe that the plan’s sizable scope is not necessarily a negative. Our current housing crisis is extraordinary and requires a bold vision from our city and county governments. If this vision is matched by action, urgency, and efficiency, especially in getting projects off the ground and funding out the door, we will see substantial progress and many people will be helped.

An older woman in a wheelchair waited outside Blanchet House for days waiting for a shelter bed to open up. She had been kicked out of other shelters because of unknown reasons. Photo by Julie Showers/Blanchet House, 2024.

A Holistic and Inclusive Approach is Essential

Blanchet House praises the plan for its comprehensive approach. The crisis we face is multifaceted and complex. We must simultaneously address the myriad of factors that cause an individual’s homelessness if we are to permanently end their suffering and housing insecurity. Addressing a person’s issues in isolation from others, whether it be housing, behavioral health, or substance use disorder, has not proven successful in the past.

We are especially grateful that the plan features a commitment by the city and county to work together, something that hasn’t always occurred to the community’s disadvantage. It’s also inspiring to see that Gov. Tina Kotek and the State of Oregon are invested in this plan and working with city and county leaders on its development and implementation. The plan acknowledges that a diverse group of stakeholders must be engaged and play a role if it is to succeed. This includes social services nonprofits like Blanchet House, health care providers, foster care and criminal justice systems, and the private sector.

Roll of Blanchet House and Social Service Nonprofits is Critical

Some parts of the Portland Homelessness Action Plan specifically target the work of Blanchet House and peer day centers like Rose Haven. We are encouraged that our efforts and challenges to service have been noticed.

First, is the plan’s goal to address the problem of people being discharged from hospitals and correctional facilities to the streets without shelter. Agencies such as ours volunteer to tend to the basic human needs of people newly homeless, sometimes still in their hospital gowns and slippers.

Second, is the plan’s acknowledgment that, “service providers were often asked to fill in systemic gaps by self-organizing even while they have not been universally supported with the capacity or funding to do so.”

This statement defines Blanchet House’s services since March 17, 2020, the first day of the COVID-19 shutdown in Oregon. We’re proud that we stepped up to fill gaps and support people in extraordinary need suffering from extraordinary mental and physical health challenges. And we’re grateful that our community has supported Blanchet House through volunteering, clothing and supply donations, and financial support. However, we need further help from the county and Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) to sustain our programs and to meet the projected expanding need.

As the director of Blanchet House, I want the community to know that we are ready to support the Homelessness Response Action Plan. We believe that our daytime support services, especially our free meal program, and our residential programs are essential to the plan’s success. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with and partner with our colleague human service agencies. Financial support by Multnomah County in the form of continuing the soon-to-expire day center services funding approved last fall will go a long way toward turning this bold vision into reality.

Scott Kerman is the Executive Director of Blanchet House of Hospitality and Blanchet Farm.

The post Fresh Start: Portland Rolls Out New Homelessness Response Plan  appeared first on Blanchet House.

The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homelessness recorded 20,110 people experiencing homelessness across Oregon.

By Scott Kerman

Recently, Portland State University released its highly anticipated 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homelessness findings. This biennial nationwide effort aims to estimate the number of individuals living unsheltered or in shelters during a single night in January.

The report’s findings validate what we already know at Blanchet House, that the need for our services increased. 2023 was a record-breaking year for our free meal program, with more than 330,000 plates of food served. Alongside food, we provided thousands of pounds of clothing, shoes, and hygiene care kits. We witnessed long lines of people in need at nearly every meal hour, which gave a visual emphasis to the stark reality of the homelessness crisis and the individuals suffering through it.

According to the 2023 PIT report, Multnomah County witnessed a staggering 29% surge in unsheltered homelessness. This closely mirrors Blanchet House’s 28% increase in meals served compared to 2022.

The report showed an 8% increase in individuals staying in shelters in our community. It’s important to understand that many people seeking hot meals at Blanchet House reside in shelters or low-income housing. They need food support because they are unable to prepare meals due to various challenges, such as income, age, or disability.

A woman puts on dry socks and shoes in the cafe at Blanchet House. The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homelessness report shows an increase in women experiencing homelessness in Portland, OR. Photo courtesy of AP News/Jenny Kane.

Point-in-Time Shows Increase in Women Experiencing Homelessness

One striking revelation from the report was the number of women experiencing homelessness in 2023. The report showed that 43% of unsheltered individuals in Multnomah County were people who identify as female. This statistic was not surprising to us at Blanchet House, nor likely to our peers at Rose Haven, a nearby day center for women.

Increase in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness

Alarmingly, the report stated that 42% of unsheltered persons were aged 45 years or older with nearly half of this demographic aged 55 or above. At Blanchet House, we serve an increasingly aging community, many of whom grapple with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and even symptoms of cognitive decline.

Disparity of BIPOC Community Experiencing Homelessness

The report also underscored the glaring racial disparities in homelessness, with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community members disproportionately affected when compared to the overall population.

But homelessness is more than just numbers. It’s a deeply human issue. Behind each number lies a story of profound human suffering, often stemming from significant trauma and adversity. It’s the story of an aging population confronting destitution and isolation in their twilight years, of women fleeing violence only to find themselves vulnerable on the streets, and of systemic injustices perpetuating cycles of poverty and discrimination.

Yet amidst these challenges, there are glimpses of hope. At Blanchet House, we witness individuals overcoming extraordinary odds, finding purpose in work, and embarking on a journey of recovery. These success stories of resilience and compassion remind us why we do what we do and why we never give up hope for people.

Our efforts may sometimes feel like an endless uphill battle. Akin to Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the mountain only to have to do so again and again.

But perhaps our true impact lies in preventing the boulder from ever hitting the ground.

The post Point-in-Time Count Shows Homelessness Growing in Portland appeared first on Blanchet House.

By Scott Kerman 

Hunger Action Month sharpens our focus on hunger insecurity and the ways we can help those who don’t have enough food. It’s also a time to shine a light on pressures that cause hunger insecurity so we have a complete picture of what it will take to eliminate hunger in our communities. By pressures, I’m referring to the multitude of insecurities caused by inadequate income.

Generally, there are two types of basic need insecurity a person may face.

1. A complete lack of access to food, housing, or healthcare.
2. Being one crisis away from losing access to food, housing, or healthcare due to a missed paycheck, unexpected bill, or medical issue. This could include someone who has physical or mental health challenges that continually pressure their situation.

People experiencing both types of insecurity need support from social services and the community during their time of uncertainty. To help grow compassion and understanding, I offer the following glossary to explain the major kinds of insecurity people may experience.

Staff offer clothing in the parking lot outside Blanchet House while food is served inside the cafe.

Income Insecurity

We must start here because poverty is at the heart of all types of basic needs insecurities. Income insecurity frequently goes hand-in-hand with employment insecurity, which comes in many forms. Such as the difficulty getting and then keeping a good-paying job, let alone one with benefits or decent and dependable hours.

When it comes to keeping a job that can pay your expenses, a person’s competence as an employee often isn’t the issue.

Employment Insecurity

Challenges that cause employment insecurity include:

• Transportation
• Childcare
• Family responsibilities
• Health
• Multiple jobs
• Harassment or intimidation at work
• Exploitative, unsafe, and illegal practices or conditions

Inequitable Access to Public Assistance

Income insecurity also occurs due to inadequacies or unfairness in our public assistance and welfare systems. A large percentage of people don’t receive the benefits they are legally entitled to receive. This is often due to a variety of factors that make it harder to access or continue to receive assistance. It can be so time-consuming for some people to get and maintain benefits that little time is left in their week to search for employment.

Housing Insecurity

The most obvious form of housing insecurity is the inability to pay rent, either because of a rent increase or loss of income. But there’s so much more to housing insecurity than that.

Other forms of housing insecurity include:

• Being a house guest, sometimes referred to as couch-surfing.
• Sharing a crowded home with multiple people or families.
• Rent shares make a person dependent on the ability of a roommate to pay rent.
• Predatory and threatening landlord or management.
• Unsafe environments:
  • Domestic abuse
  • High crime
  • Disrepair
  • Pest infestation
  • Insufficient heating or cooling

Food and Hunger Insecurity

Being impoverished often means living with hunger. Food benefits such as food stamps or SNAP don’t always solve this. Accessing healthy food is much harder when you are poor.

Food insecurity also gives rise to other types of insecurity because people must choose how best to stretch a dollar. Clothing, car repair, gas, medical care, laundry, or even just the electric bill may have to take a backseat to feeding oneself or their family.

Food Deserts

People living in impoverished communities often live in “food deserts” which are areas that lack grocery stores that sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy foods.

SNAP Restrictions

In Oregon, people can’t use SNAP benefits to purchase freshly-prepared hot meals. This is why soup kitchens like Blanchet House’s free cafe are needed for people living in low-income housing or temporary shelters, or who have disabilities that make cooking difficult.

Healthcare Insecurity

Perhaps it’s self-evident that not having reliable access to healthcare significantly affects a person’s ability to be secure in so many other things in life. You can’t talk about healthcare insecurity without discussing the costs and insurance. The stark truth is many people are one big medical bill away from ruin.

Lack of access to healthcare can lead to:

• Loss of employment for people caring for ill or aging family members.
• Untreated mental health, chronic illnesses, and physical disabilities cause housing, food, and other insecurities.
• Aging without care can lead to worsening health and preventable illness. Persons living in poverty age faster, which means chronic and debilitating conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s, can occur earlier and progress faster than in other communities, further straining our health care and housing services.

Peer Support Specialist talks with a person experiencing homelessness in Portland.

Community Insecurity

Community insecurity is a consistent lack of access to human interaction that a person needs to live a healthy life. Loneliness and social isolation negatively affect our physical and mental health which is why regular access to a community is critical.

A person can experience community insecurity when they are living on the margins of our cities due to mental health, physical disabilities, drug addiction, or poverty. It can be thought of also as a lack of access to more privileged members of our communities. This type of community insecurity is often experienced by groups plagued by transgenerational poverty, racism, or discrimination. The thing is, when you’re really poor, then likely everyone around you and everyone you know is also really poor.

So where do you turn for help when you really need it like a ride to work or a loan for rent? For many people, the road to rock bottom is very short because there aren’t many people who are able to catch you on the way down. There also are fewer opportunities to get a leg up. From the start of life, poverty can create disadvantages that are extremely difficult to overcome.

Time Insecurity

Being poor, living in poor communities, and having inconsistent access to basic needs creates an insecurity of time. Annie Lowery of The Atlantic explains that when you’re poor you are charged a “time tax.” Simply put, it just takes a lot longer to do things when you’re poor. For example, relying on public transportation can add time to ordinary chores like shopping, commuting to work, or medical appointments.

When you are income insecure it’s likely that you’re time insecure too because lines and wait times are longer for low-income healthcare providers and services. Whereas people who aren’t income insecure can get multiple chores and appointments done more efficiently. A person who needs more time off work to manage personal responsibilities may strain the security of their employment.

Time is also needed to put yourself in a position to escape income insecurity. You need time to look for and apply for employment, find daycare or school, and housing. If you’re homeless, and you don’t know where you’re going to sleep or eat from day to day, then you are even less likely to have time to look for a job.

Ever watch a reality show like Survivor, where people are out in the wild? Their time each day is spent making sure they have food, water, and shelter. That’s what it’s like for people who are housing and food insecure. Every day is an episode of Survivor, except without the grand prize at the end.

Bandwidth Insecurity

This kind of insecurity may be unfamiliar to you. It refers to the cognitive impact of living with stress and anxiety all the time because of poverty. It affects a person’s brain in ways that challenge their ability to make decisions and see the bigger picture.

“When you’re bandwidth-poor, you’re thinking about how to pay for food and make rent today — and it’s almost impossible to think about the future,” NPR’s Laura Starecheski reported.

It’s not easy being poor, and this affects a person’s energy or mental capacity required to deal with a situation. Poverty assistance involves a lot of complicated forms, deadlines to remember, complex criteria to document and satisfy, and requirements that change frequently and with little notice or support. There simply are a lot of roadblocks and a thousand points of “no” in the way of getting help and services.

It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to persevere when you’re poor, and often what people really need is an advocate with the bandwidth and confidence to help get things done in the face of so much resistance and bureaucracy.

Lifespan Insecurity

The bleak truth is that very poor people live shorter lives. Tragically, it’s sometimes due to having to live in unsafe environments. But lifespan insecurity is also due to natural causes that impact poor people differently than others. A lack of access to healthy housing and food, and sufficient healthcare takes a heavy physical toll on people. We see this at Blanchet House when previous residents of our shelter programs, succumb too soon to the damage a lifetime of hard living does to a person. Years of untreated or poorly managed high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and other ailments can cause an early death.

The Challenge of Multiple Insecurities

People experiencing poverty rarely experience just one type of insecurity. One insecurity leads to another and then another, compounding to oppress a person’s ability to thrive. This is why it’s difficult to address only one insecurity at a time. For example, providing a home to a housing-insecure person won’t likely solve all their problems. A support structure that addresses multiple challenges to a person’s housing stability needs to be put in place.

Long-term transitional supported housing, often called bridge or interim housing, can better help people address their insecurities. At Blanchet House, a nine-month program provides residents with a safe place to stay, eat, bathe, do laundry, and access physical and mental healthcare all while supported by peers. This type of transitional housing removes insecurities, so they can focus on overcoming complex obstacles and roadblocks. It takes time and support to achieve things like getting a GED and finding employment or housing with a less-than-perfect record.

And most importantly, residents receive the gift of time. Because no one can overcome a lifetime of neglect, abuse, or lack in a month or even three months. It takes time to build new habits, skills, and connections that will help them stay successful, employed, and housed.

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