“I was lost for a long time,” Edgar shares, reflecting on his journey. “Thanks to Pine Street Inn’s support, I gained purpose and a sense of direction.” When he was just 12 years old, Edgar developed a substance use disorder. “Growing up around gangs, I thought that was normal life,” he explains. “But addiction and…
Nestled in a quiet corner of Jamaica Plain is one of Pine Street Inn’s most unique residences. Pine Street purchased the property in 1998 from a local church that could no longer support the residents. One of those tenants is Denise. A lifelong caregiver, Denise built her career as a physical therapist, spending 18 years…
Family has always been at the center of Shayne’s life. “It was me, my mother, father and two sisters,” he says. “We were a close unit.” When Shayne was 19, his father passed away. “Substance use has always been a part of our family’s story — including how we lost my father,” he says quietly….
A natural people person, Gaelen Coleman has always loved connecting with others and hearing their stories. While studying at Northeastern University, she shifted from history and political science to human services, where one of her first courses explored homelessness in Boston. That class sparked her interest and soon led her to Pine Street Inn, where…
“Everything I do is for my kids,” Kelley says. “They give me hope.” Kelley grew up in a household where family was everything — and losing it would define the years that followed. As a teenager, her life was already changing. “I became pregnant and started preparing to become a mother while I was still…
Kalel, now 46, moved to Boston three years ago to be closer to their significant other. “I was living in Oklahoma when I met the person who would become my significant other. They were from Boston,” Kalel says. “During the pandemic, I got laid off from my job at a school bus manufacturing plant. That’s…
“When we were kids, my older brother and I played soccer every day,” Mario says. “We fought, we laughed, we always had each other.” That bond stayed with Mario when he followed his brother to Boston, eager to build his own life. He worked wherever he could — in factories, recycling warehouses, snow shoveling and…
Allycia Solomon-White, lead housing search and stabilization case manager, joined Pine Street Inn six years ago. “My grandma was a foster parent for many years, so I grew up with the desire to help others,” shares Allycia. “She inspired me to go into the human services field.” Allycia began her journey at the Men’s Inn,…
Dianna’s early years were anything but easy. Struggling in school, she decided to leave before graduating. Uncertain about her future and with few options, she began stealing. That path soon led to consequences. “When I was 17, I got arrested,” she confesses. “I was sent to a juvenile detention center. After that experience, I said…
Weldon came to Boston for love. He was born and raised in Texas, where he met the woman who became his wife. “After we married, she wanted to move back to her hometown of Boston,” he says. “So, I followed.” Weldon studied law at UMass Boston and spent 13 years as a paralegal at a…
When life becomes overwhelming, Stella turns to the one constant she can rely on: music. “Singing helps me feel like myself again,” she says. Just as music restores her spirit, a move to Massachusetts restored Stella’s sense of purpose. She dedicated herself to caring for others, training as a certified nursing assistant and working in…
“From the outside, it looked like I was doing great,” Gregory reflects. “But inside, I felt empty.” Gregory, 43, grew up outside Boston. “After I left school, I lost my way,” he shares. “I didn’t have a strong support system and turned to substances to cope with feeling lost.” His life began to change for…
