Chad’s Story

Chad is a Navy Veteran who grew up in a military family. He joined the military immediately after high school and soon supported Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield as an aviation ordinance man on the USS Nimitz.
 
In 2007, Chad lost his mother. The trauma of losing her didn’t unveil itself until he spent time in drug court. He struggled with substance abuse and homelessness, going in and out of rehabilitation hospitals and living on the streets. His time in drug court gave him the support he needed and helped identify the issues underlying addiction. Completing the program was a significant turning point in his life.
 
In 2015, he found Transition Projects. Chad was placed at Doreen’s Place Shelter, allowing him to maintain his sobriety and stay on track. He eventually moved into his first apartment through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and started college at Portland State University.
 
In 2017, he graduated with a 3.4 GPA. He volunteered at PSU’s food pantry, the Portland Veterans Hiring Fair & Stand Down, and even worked at Transition Projects to help veterans like himself.
 
In 2023, Chad again experienced homelessness due to rising crime rates in his neighborhood. He felt safer living in his car but realized that wasn’t a long-term solution. Chad decided his best option was to reach back out to Transition Projects. Working with a case manager, Chad successfully obtained permanent housing once again.
 
Since his move, Chad has proactively improved his well-being by engaging with the community, utilizing supportive services, starting a business, and maintaining stable housing.
 
Chad works closely with his case manager and Health Care Navigator to accomplish his goals. He brings a positive frame of mind to every meeting, constantly expressing gratitude and, at the same time, continuously achieving his program objectives and expectations.
 
We look forward to witnessing Chad’s continued growth and success.