Homeless U.S. Marine Corps veteran serves up burgers, community at Lighthouse

After serving 18 years in the Marines, Todd Walters found himself homeless at age 60. Though the Iraqi War veteran faces significant challenges in finding his next home, he refuses to sit idly when there's food and friends to be made.

Todd Walters sits inside his truck with his dog, Chance Two, outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Walters has been staying at The Lighthouse since last winter, and he’s hoping to leave soon. “Everybody is just one paycheck away from being homeless,” Walters said. Photo by Joe Kline.

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By DAVID DUDLEY

FORJournalism Lab

Visitors to the Lighthouse Navigation Center, a shelter situated at 275 NE 2nd Street, in Bend, may notice a man grilling fat burgers, chicken, or, occasionally, steaks.

That's Todd Walters, a 60-year-old veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Every other day, he rolls his grill out onto the sidewalk before firing it up, sending the aroma of barbecue into the air. His neighbors gather round. Conversations and connections ensue as they enjoy a meal together.

Though he's lived at the shelter, a 24/7 support facility run by Shepherd's House Ministries, for only a few months, he's befriended many of his fellow shelter-dwellers.

Todd Walters grills chicken outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Walters said he regularly grills on the sidewalk outside The Lighthouse and shares with anyone passing by. Photo by Joe Kline.

"When I grill my own food, I offer it to anybody that's hungry," he said. "If they want to bring their own food, I'll cook it. Sharing food with each other reminds us that we're human."

Walters' slide into homelessness came after 18 years in the Marine Corps. Studies show that veterans who were deployed to Iraq — Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom — experience high rates of homelessness. According to analyses by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the shortage of affordable housing, low income, lack of access to healthcare, and PTSD contribute to those numbers. As in Walters' case, all of those factors are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

But Walters refuses to give up.

"It's important, when you're homeless, to enjoy life," he said. "I didn't plan it this way. I'm just doing the best I can with what I have."

Back to Portland

Though he was born in Burbank, California, Walters grew up in West Linn, outside of Portland. While in high school, Walters said he worked alongside his dad, Richard Adams, who ran a company that built and serviced sunrooms, greenhouses and skylights.

Todd Walters stands near his truck parked outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Walters, an 18-year Marine veteran, has been staying at The Lighthouse since last winter, and said this is the longest he’s been homeless and at a shelter. Photo by Joe Kline.

After graduating high school in 1984, Walters enlisted in the Marines. He served as a telecommunications expert in Desert Storm in 1991.

"I wasn't in the field," he said. "I was mostly in an air-conditioned trailer, confusing the enemy about what we were up to."

After he returned to Portland, he and his wife divorced in 2006. That event opened a dark chapter in Walters' life.

"It was hard, because I loved my wife," he said. "I loved my daughters, and I liked being married. After the divorce, I felt like I had to go, just get out of there."

Feeling lost, Walters moved to Lodi, California, where he said he ran his own construction business. He specializes in bathroom and kitchen remodels, fences, decks, and general handyman work. Walters lived for years on the property of one of his clients, so housing wasn't a concern.

Todd Walters’ dog, Chance Two, sits in a chair outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Photo by Joe Kline.

Though Walters' business was doing well in Lodi, he was lonely, and he longed to return to Portland. Then, a little over a year ago, Walters spoke with a friend who had bought a home in Redmond.

"He invited me to live with him," Walters said. "I packed everything into my truck and my camping trailer, and I drove north. I thought it would just be a stop along the way back to Portland."

A crossroads

Walters said he was only at his friend's house for a few months before his friend suffered a stroke. Walters offered to help care for his ailing friend, but his friend's wife asked Walters to move on, as she intended to sell the house.

He packed everything into his truck and his camper, but this time he made a short trip. He spent a few nights in the Redmond Walmart’s parking lot. When he was asked to move, he parked around the corner from his friend's house to regroup and figure out where to go next.

Todd Walters sits inside his truck with his dog, Chance Two, outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Photo by Joe Kline.

"I started thinking: Am I gonna lose my truck?" he said. "Is my life gonna go down the drain?

"I was at a crossroads," he continued. "Like, do I go back to Lodi? Do I continue on to Portland? Or, do I stay here?"

During that time, Walters said he would occasionally stop by 5 Below Steakhouse & Breakfast Nook in Redmond. He'd have lunch, maybe a beer, and enjoy the company of others.

"I was trying to feel like a human as much as possible," he said. "One man I met there gave me $100. I'm forever grateful for that."

As Walters' financial situation grew worse, he sought shelter at the Lighthouse. He intended to stay just long enough to get some food, a shower, and to wash his clothes. Then, he thought he'd return to California. But the registration on his Ford F-250 had expired.

"I got four tickets pretty quickly," Walters said. "The last time they pulled me over, the police said they were going to impound my truck. I didn't want to lose my transportation and tools, so I parked it at the Lighthouse."

That was last winter. With the coming winter looming, Walters said that he's growing restless.

Todd Walters nuzzles with his dog, Chance Two, outside his truck parked at The Lighthouse in Bend. “I can’t live without a dog, period.” Walters said. He adopted Chance Two shortly after his dog, Chance One, died and a visitor to The Lighthouse left Chance Two behind. Photo by Joe Kline.

Friends and memories

During that time, Walters' dog, Chance One, died. Shortly thereafter, a man brought a white puppy with big paws into the shelter.

"This puppy was the spitting image of Chance," Walters said. "The man said he couldn't keep the puppy, so I asked if I could have him."

Walters named the puppy Chance Two.

Whether Walters is grilling, repairing vehicles, or picking up trash, Chance Two circles Walters' feet. The playful, happy-go-lucky puppy is deaf, so he relies upon Walters to help him find his way, to stay safe.

Though this is the first time Walters has been homeless, he said that he refuses to let his circumstances define him.

"When you're homeless, you can sit around and be lazy," he said. "Or, you can help the people around you. You can take odd jobs as they come. You can make friends and memories."

Todd Walters feeds his dog, Chance Two, scraps from some chicken he grilled outside The Lighthouse in Bend. Walters said he regularly grills on the sidewalk outside The Lighthouse and shares with anyone passing by. Photo by Joe Kline.

Walters said he chooses the latter. Whenever people pass the shelter parking lot, seeking day laborers, Walters is keen to work.

"I'm trying to save money, so I can hit the road again before winter," he said. "There are people who have been here for six years. I can't imagine that."

Walters worries that he's neglecting his talents and that his sense of humor is dimming. He doesn't know whether he'll return to Lodi or Portland, but he has no intention of sitting around, waiting.

"Don't get me wrong," he said. "I love Shepherd's House. There are great people here, and they're doing good work. But I want to get back on my feet again."

Homelessness: Real Stories, Real Solutions (realstoriesrealsolutions.org) is a journalism lab funded by Central Oregon Health Council under FORJournalism (forjournalism.org), an Oregon nonprofit dedicated to supporting journalism statewide. Sign up for weekly newsletters to receive updates.