Phillip's Story

At 60 years old, Phillip never imagined he would find himself homeless.

For much of his life, Phillip traveled the world pursuing his passions for art and food. He built a fulfilling career in the high-end culinary world, working at the prestigious Le Bernardin in New York City, exploring the cuisines of Southeast Asia, and eventually creating luxury dining experiences in the remote Alaskan bush.

Phillip grew up in Arkansas, where he fondly remembers having “a wonderful childhood.” After graduating from art school and working in advertising in New York City, he followed his passion for food to the New York Restaurant School. His culinary education opened doors to opportunities he could never have imagined.

But life took an unexpected turn.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Phillip left New York City, his home for 25 years, fearful of “what could happen next.” He returned to Arkansas and reunited with his high school sweetheart. They shared many happy years before eventually parting ways—and Phillip entered one of the hardest chapters of his life.

He moved to Portland to be near his brother, Tim. Phillip worked short-term jobs and stayed in motels whenever he could afford them. Eventually, he found a stable job, sublet a room, and felt relieved to have a place to call home. Then, after two years, he was unexpectedly evicted.

“I’m back on the street again, faced with starting over,” Phillip remembers.

This time, his brother Tim encouraged him to reach out to Transition Projects. A longtime Transition Projects volunteer, Tim had served hundreds of meals at Doreen’s Place, one of their shelters. He knew that Transition Projects could help Phillip through this difficult period and connect him with the resources he needed to find a path home.

Phillip was welcomed into the River District Navigation Center, a Transition Projects shelter in Northwest Portland, where he was immediately connected with Linda, a case manager. “She calls herself an advocate. Which she truly is!” Phillip says. “She picked me up at the shelter and drove me all the way to Beaverton to the Social Security office.”

Linda helped Phillip navigate the complicated process of accessing Medicare and Medicaid, reducing the financial burden of his health care. With a reliable monthly income, Phillip was one step closer to his goal of finding a home of his own.

And in May 2026, Phillip moved into a downtown Portland studio apartment.

Today, Phillip is thriving. As an artist, he loves being close to the Portland Art Museum—and he has a wonderful perspective on his new home: “I sleep two blocks from a Van Gogh every night. I feel pretty lucky!”

Phillip’s journey is a reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone. It can follow a job loss, an eviction, a health crisis, or a series of circumstances no one could have predicted. And when it happens, having someone to help navigate the next steps can make all the difference.

At Transition Projects, we believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We help our neighbors move from homelessness to shelter, from shelter toward permanent housing, and from housing to long-term stability. Phillip was ready for that next step. Your support helped make it possible.