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Journalists are welcome to contact the Communications Department at (617) 892-9174 or e-mail shepley.metcalf@pinestreetinn.org or info@pinestreetinn.org
Pine Street Inn, Goodwill, and Boston Health Care for the Homeless
collaborate to preserve services for the homeless Pine Street Inn announced that effective July 1, 2003 Boston Health Care for the Homeless and Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries will assume responsibility for the inn's health care services and clothing collection. The guests will continue to receive these services on site, but the services will no longer be managed by Pine Street Inn. The change will entail the elimination of 41 positions, or more than 10 percent of Pine Street's work force, a direct result of four years of level funding and reductions in state funding for homeless services. "These changes are a painful reflection of the times-- an era of dramatically reduced funding for human services," says Downie. "Fortunately, for our guests, Boston Health Care for the Homeless and Goodwill were more than responsive when asked to collaborate with us in the provision of these services. We have worked with them over the years, and we are grateful to them for their help now." "We share a common mission to be of service to the poorest members of our community," said Joanne Hilferty, president and CEO of Goodwill. "These are difficult times for all of our organizations, but by joining forces we will be able to meet an important need." Added Robert Taube, executive director of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, "Shelter-based care of homeless people is at the core of our mission. We have worked side by side with Pine Street's nurses and know well the caliber of care they have provided homeless men and women in our community. We are committed to making this partnership with Pine Street work, and hope to be able to hire many of the current nursing staff who are so well known to the guests." Through its street outreach, shelter, health care, job training, and housing, Pine Street Inn currently serves 1,200 homeless men and women daily at 27 locations. The inn's state funding had remained level for three years prior to the $2.2 million reduction this year. This reduction had already prompted the earlier elimination of 29 positions, for a total in FY 2003 of 70 positions and 16 percent of the work force. "We have taken a series of steps to adapt to the economic and funding environment without adversely affecting our guests, but even with level funding in the FY '04 budget, we will still face shortfall of $1.2 million," said Downie. "Further reductions in our state funding would unavoidably reduce the services available to homeless men and women." In seeking to find savings and reduce expenses, the board of directors and inn senior management chose to make reductions that would preserve Pine Street's emergency beds and outreach services; minimize impact upon the guests; and use resources outside the inn, through collaboration, to preserve services. The board also authorized inn management to spend in excess of $1.5 million from its reserves to support operations, an increase of $1 million of last year's allocation. These resources are in addition to the $4-$5 million the inn raises from private donors each year to fund its programs. By the end of the fiscal year- June 30, 2003- the inn will close its eighteen Greater Boston clothing donation bins, and two Blue Moon thrift stores. "I would like to express my lasting appreciation to the staff in the clothing program and our clinics for working every day to improve the lives of our guests," said David Manzo Pine Street board chair. More information about these organizations can be found at their web sites: Boston Health Care for the Homeless
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