Author | Lightnews

Scott Kerman

@skermanpdx.bsky.social

290 followers 340 following 110 posts

Nonprofit homeless services, Portland Oregon. #Homelessness #foodinsecurity Serving & sheltering w dignity. Promoting hope for persons w mental illness & addiction. Previously a criminal defense atty & educator. Living well w multiple sclerosis since 2001

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Nov 20

Hello @bsky.app! As an intro, I’m on the ground in Old Town Portland Oregon where Blanchet House serves over 1000 hot meals 6 days a week to anyone in need. We also provide clothing, peer support, & other resources. We make these meals w 300 tons of rescued food each yr. @blanchethouse.bsky.social

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Jun 25

The quest for better sleep is a multi-billion $$ industry. What price then should we be willing to bear to provide people living unsheltered & afraid at night the simple opportunity to sleep in safety & comfort? Overnight emergency shelter is a moral imperative.

blanchethouse.org/why-portland...

Why Portland Needs Overnight Shelters Right Now - Blanchet House

We need to meet the moment by opening more overnight gender specific shelters to end Portland homelessness.

blanchethouse.org

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · May 31

Let’s start with the “why.”

Why is Blanchet House & Farm opening an overnight emergency shelter for women?

Because it will save lives. It’s that simple—and that urgent.
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

www.wweek.com/news/city/20...

Blanchet House Seeks to Open Overnight Women’s Shelter in Slabtown

The social-services nonprofit Blanchet House is set to open a 75-bed overnight women’s shelter at a vacant bike shop in the Slabtown area of Northwest Portland.

www.wweek.com

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · May 26

Help us save a critical and cost effective behavioral health program serving hundreds each day at six different human services providers in Old Town and NW Portland.

www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

Readers respond: Restore funding for Old Town peer support

Letters to the Editor can be submitted to [email protected] with full name and place of residence.

www.oregonlive.com

Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Apr 2

Learning that Multnomah County funding for Blanchet House meal and support services was cut from next year’s purposed Joint Office budget didn’t change the fact that people in our community desperately need our services. Rather than despair, we received this news as a call to do more to help people.

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Apr 1

Portland is cutting vital homeless services when we need them most. Housing alone isn’t enough—food, hygiene, and human connection are essential first steps. Read Scott Kerman’s latest blog post to see what’s at stake: bit.ly/41Vil7K

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Mar 16

Everyone should buy one of these for themselves or a teacher they love! It's not exactly the same banner, unfortunately, but still! teachers-world.com/shop/ols/pro...

Everyone is Welcome Helping Hands Banner

Welcome, inspire, and encourage students with these colorful banners! Each one folds for easy storage and then unfolds to 8" x 39". UV Coated.

teachers-world.com

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Mar 10

Can people experiencing homelessness feel joy and happiness? @skermanpdx.bsky.social believes they deserve to. In his latest blog post, he explains how homeless services can do more than provide survival necessities. They can also make people feel respected, connected, and even happy. bit.ly/3Dlrk8O

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Mar 5

Enjoyed the opportunity to be on City Cast Portland.

portland.citycast.fm/podcasts?utm...

Portland's Best Daily Podcast - City Cast Portland

Listen to the City Cast Portland podcast. Here's what Portland's talking about today.

portland.citycast.fm

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Mar 2

Thank you for serving our community!

Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 28

The pigs think I’m hamming it up too much. The chickens think it’s egg-cellent.

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 28

Found a willing audience at Blanchet Farm to help me practice my speech for Sunday’s Lend a Helping Hand Brunch!
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 28

Finding plenty of inspiration at Blanchet Farm for my speech at Sunday’s Blanchet House Lend a Helping Hand Brunch!
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 26

@qualified-sharid.bsky.social
Can’t wait to read this!

Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 19

A man started yelling in the cafe when we announced that lunch was ending. Our staff were so kind offering him exit gifts like care kits and socks. He yelled, “I don’t want to be like this… yelling! I don’t want to live like this.” It was so sad. People aren’t choosing to live without housing.

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 17

Neil leads a kitchen shift at Blanchet House and works at Goodwill, but his path to stability wasn’t easy. Once a stock trader, he lost everything after personal tragedy and addiction took hold. He cycled through homelessness before finding support at Blanchet. “Listen to those who’ve lived it.”

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 14

These amazing people trekked through the ice and snow to serve breakfast at Blanchet House this morning. We’re open all day for hot meals, warm clothes, support services, and community.

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 13

Thank you Oregon Senator Lisa Reynolds for walking through a snowstorm to volunteer to serve lunch today!

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 11

Happy 73rd Birthday Blanchet House of Hospitality! We've been serving free meals and radical acts of hospitality in Old Town Portland since 1952. Blanchet House is more than an organization—it’s a community of thousands coming together to make the world a kinder place.

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 12

Brrr! We gave out 50 coats in under an hour today! We urgently need adult-sized coats and sweatpants of all sizes to keep up with the demand. If you’re able to help, please drop off donations Mon-Sat btwn 8–10:30am or 1–4pm at 310 NW Glisan. Or send items by mail or shop our list amzn.to/44rDjKl

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 11

Restoring dignity happens in many ways at Blanchet House, incl. free haircuts to meal guests in the parking lot next to our free café. We know it takes more than meals to promote hope & alleviate suffering. That’s why we provide wraparound services in addition to hot meals
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 11

Mandy surprised us with a donation in memory of her brother Joe, who sadly passed struggling with addiction. He faced a lot of pain after being rejected for being gay.

“What he wanted more than anything was to find somebody to love.”

Full story bit.ly/4aYgTEy

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 11

Wrap around services are essential for people exp. unsheltered homelessness or housing insecurity. Blanchet House has developed a roster of supportive services to complement our meal services. Health care & mental health services in pop-up clinics held in the parking lot adjacent to our free Cafe.

Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 8

In the past yr, Blanchet House provided Day Center Services thanks to Multnomah Cty funding. Although covering only a portion of our expenses, it has significantly helped us sustain & expand services to address growing demand & support those w social & economic challenges
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 7

Much chatter that people won’t go downtown in Portland. Well, each day 50+ volunteers age 14-84 come to Old Town to serve at Blanchet House!
#homelessness
#volunteer
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

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Reposted by Scott Kerman

Blanchet House & Farm @blanchethouse.bsky.social · Feb 5

We’re hiring a Bilingual Peer Support & Housing Specialist to help our guests find shelter, housing, support, and hope. $28.5/hour; Four-day work week Mon, Tue, Fri, and Sat; Apply now and see more details BlanchetHouse.org/jobs.

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Scott Kerman @skermanpdx.bsky.social · Feb 4

On brutally cold nights like we’ve been having in Portland, it’s the lucky few who have sleeping bags at least. Not so lucky of course, but many don’t have that much. 30 degrees when Blanchet House opened for breakfast, serving hot coffee & oatmeal.
#homelessness
@blanchethouse.bsky.social

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