Portland man leaves homelessness to help others through nonprofit work
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PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – A man who spent a decade homeless in North Portland is now housed and working at a tiny home village just feet away from where he used to live out of a tent.
David Huntley has lived several lives.
He described himself as a family man, bouncing around jobs and working in healthcare for a time. Born and raised in Portland’s St. John’s neighborhood, he thought he would never be homeless.
In 2013, he was unemployed when he and his partner broke up. He left his family and planned to live off the grid for less than a year.
“BeforeIknewitIhadbeenouthereforwelloverfiveyears,”saidHuntley.
HejoinedalargehomelesscampthatusedtooccupythePeninsulaCrossingtrailinNorthPortland.Drugusewasprevalent,andbecameapartofhislife.
SEEALSO:
MultnomahCountyisfacinga$104milliongapinitsbudgetforhomelessservicesandhasaskedthestateandMetroforemergencyfundstohelp.
In2018,Huntley’smomdied,crushinganymotivationhehadleft.
“OncemymotherpassedawayIdidn’twanttoworkagain.Ididn’twanttogoindoors.SoIjuststayedouthe