By Founder, Matt Brown
On December 20th of this past year, I lost a piece of my heart. My friend RJ passed away at just 35 years old. He had been unsheltered for much of his adult life, and like so many of us, he faced struggles with substance use and mental health, which led to the medical conditions that ultimately claimed his life.
I met RJ through my role as a peer support and outreach worker, but over time, he became one of my closest friends. He was brilliant—a voracious reader with an unmatched memory and an incredible gift for conversation. I’ll never forget sitting in his hospital room as he recited the first chapter of The Road by Cormac McCarthy entirely from memory. His love of literature and our deep discussions about life, spirituality, and even death were unforgettable.
In his final months, it was both heartbreaking and a privilege to walk alongside him. RJ wasn’t just “one of those homeless people” that some may pass by without a second glance. He was a son, a friend, and a deeply unique person loved by many—his family, friends, and a devoted network of outreach workers in Portland.
RJ left a mark on my heart and so many others. Though there is a void without him, his memory lives on, and I will carry him with me every time I walk these streets.