Blanchet House is set to open Bethanie's Room, a new overnight shelter for women and gender-expansive people in Northwest Portland, on Feb. 9. The privately funded site at 1015 NW 17th Ave in Slabtown will offer up to 75 beds each night and operate from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., aiming to fill a gap in shelter options on the city’s west side while guests connect with services.
The shelter is named Bethanie's Room in memory of a woman who frequently used Blanchet House and died while unhoused. Blanchet House and her family say the project is meant to prevent similar losses, officials told KGW. Shelly Bancroft, who will direct the shelter, told the outlet that Bethanie was killed in a hit-and-run crash and that the space was intentionally designed so women can get restful sleep and better access to daytime services.
What Bethanie's Room Will Offer
According to Blanchet House, the shelter will serve people 18 and older and can host up to 75 women nightly. Pets are welcome, and there will be secure storage for larger items such as bicycles and carts. The nonprofit says guests may leave personal belongings during the day and that the site will operate seven nights a week. Donors have provided roughly 70 twin beds plus five roll-away or ADA-accessible cots to outfit the space.
Design, Sleep And Safety
Shelter leaders told KGW that the interior uses trauma-informed design to promote rest. The space is divided into 20 lighting zones with dimmable timers, and it features sound-masking technology to help preserve privacy. Officials also said bathrooms were expanded and emergency alarms added, and trained peer-support professionals will be on site to help guests connect with housing, health, and counseling services.
Neighborhood Coordination And Context
The project is privately funded and follows months of planning as Blanchet House pursued options to add women-specific beds on the west side, local reporting shows. Axios noted the nonprofit had earlier explored a church sanctuary and that the move to a Slabtown site reflects a push to place nighttime shelter closer to daytime services for women.
How To Get A Bed
Blanchet House's site says guests should line up in the shelter's parking lot from 7 to 8 p.m., with intake beginning at 8 p.m., and that Bethanie's Room opens to the public on Feb. 9. Staff and peer supporters will be on site nightly, and the nonprofit adds a voicemail contact at 971-358-7774 for questions and referrals.
