The Cancer-Surviving, Formerly-Homeless, Elderly Man Who Won't Stop Painting

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-09-30 07:28:00 UTC
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Surviving cancer is usually a cause for celebration. But for Peter Phelps, it meant one thing: homelessness. Today, at 82 years old, Peter Phelps' life looks dramatically different than it did two years ago. Rather than staying on the streets, he spends 40 hours each day in his single bedroom apartment in Boston pursuing his passion - painting.

At 79 years old, Peter was diagnosed with lung cancer. According to the VOA Newsroom, he was told he was terminal, so he quietly prepared for the end of his life by giving away his belongings. "Since I was going to die, I didn't need all of the clothes and the car, whatever. I gave everything away. Somebody could use it, I passed it on." He was also undergoing experimental treatments at Dana Farber Cancer Institute where he thought he'd be hospitalized; he wasn't. He ended up in a homeless shelter.

Sadly, Phelps' situation was not unique. Approximately one-third of the adult homeless population in this country is over 50 years old. Many suffer from health ailments or disabilities; in many cases, this is the major cause of their homelessness.

But Phelps' story takes a 180 degree turn for the better. Hearth, a nonprofit housing provider in Boston, found Phelps through street outreach. Two years ago, they placed him in his own apartment and began providing comprehensive mental and physical health services. They helped transform his living room into an art studio, rekindling his passion and his talent for painting. He hasn't looked back since.

Today, every single painting Phelps creates is given to a formerly homeless friend down the hall or is sold to benefit Hearth. To date, he has created over 100 paintings for Hearth and, according to the nonprofit, he won't stop painting.

Phelps' story is further proof that we should not give up on anyone simple because they do not have a place to live.

Image and video from VOA Newsroom. See more of Phelps' artwork here.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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