Bunni — A Bridge to Rebuilding His Life

Bunni’s name comes from love. Adopted as a baby, Bunni later learned his birth mother’s name was Bonnie. “She died young from ovarian cancer,” he says. “I started to call myself Bunni as a way to remember her.”

Though his name sounds gentle, Bunni’s childhood was not. Growing up in Ohio, responsibility came early. “My adoptive parents both became ill when I was young,” he shares. “By the time I was 13, I was working full time to help support my family while going to school.”

After his parents passed away, his relatives sold the family home without his consent. “They took everything,” he says. “I was devastated.”

Looking for a fresh start, Bunni moved to Massachusetts to reconnect with a family member. Instead, he was taken advantage of. “She stole my money,” Bunni recalls. “I was stranded with no support.”

Bunni then turned to Pine Street Inn for help. “I was hesitant to enter shelter, but I needed a safe place to stay,” he says.

Staying in a shelter was not easy, but with help from staff, Bunni found the support he needed to move into a new residence in Dorchester, where Pine Street provides support services to help tenants thrive.

“I didn’t believe until I saw it,” Bunni says about getting his apartment. Now, Bunni focuses on his health and building community. “My favorite hobby is coloring books. It helps me stay grounded,” he smiles. “I’ve also met some new friends through movie nights hosted by staff.”

For Bunni, Pine Street provided more than a bed — it was a bridge to rebuilding his life. “I feel like I have a path forward,” he says. “But this time, I’m not alone.”