“I grew up in a loving home in New Jersey with my two brothers,” reminisces Joyce, 70, a tenant at one of Pine Street Inn’s residences in Dorchester. Nearly 50 years ago, Joyce moved to Boston to study elementary education at Northeastern University. With few teaching jobs available, she found herself working in a restaurant…
“My life was going well — I had a job, a wife and kids,” says Rodney. “Then I got divorced and everything changed.” Rodney’s divorce took a heavy toll on his mental health. “It affected my work, and eventually, I lost my job,” he shares. Without an income, Rodney then lost his apartment and ended…
A familiar face to many at Pine Street, Lauren Schmidt is program manager for the workforce development team. Lauren first served as Pine Street’s senior manager of volunteer programs from 2018 to 2021, following her time in the Peace Corps and at a New York City nonprofit focused on HIV prevention and housing. Pine Street’s…
For a long time, Shawn did not know what the next day would bring — bouncing between shelters and the streets. When Pine Street Inn’s outreach team connected with him, he discovered something he had always longed for — a place to call home. Shawn grew up in Boston and found a job at a…
Emily Ahman-Gamble, a supervisor on the housing clinical services team, joined Pine Street in 2022. Emily spent much of her childhood in New England and Maryland before returning to Boston to complete a Master of Social Work degree at Simmons University. Inspired by her mother, a longtime social worker, Emily felt a natural pull toward…
As a high school ice hockey standout, Richard planned to attend college at the University of Vermont to play hockey. Richard’s plans changed during his senior year of high school when he suffered both a back injury and a traumatic brain injury during a game, putting an end to his dream. Richard’s doctor prescribed an…
“Pine Street Inn never turned their back on me.” That support gave Anthony the strength to rebuild his life. Growing up in Roxbury, Anthony took on the immense responsibility of fatherhood at just 15 years old. Determined to support his family, he found work wherever he could, including restaurants and odd jobs. “It was a…
Marla Doane, Pine Street Inn’s regional director of housing support services, has been an integral part of the organization’s growth. With nearly 36 years of dedication to ending homelessness, Marla has managed housing locations in Jamaica Plain, Brookline, and several others, helping to shape Pine Street’s transformative housing initiatives. “I first heard about Pine Street…
Adonis had worked hard his entire life in construction. When he decided to switch careers to better support his family, he moved to Boston looking for opportunities. However, the high cost of housing and difficulty finding work resulted in Adonis becoming homeless. “I was struggling to find a place to stay and needed help,” Adonis…
Growing up, Britney had a good home life, being raised by her godmother after her mother passed away. When she was in her late twenties, Britney’s godmother also passed away, and she became depressed. Britney’s mental health issues led to her developing a substance use disorder. “I chose to come to Boston to focus on…
Lauren Mitchell is an employment stabilization specialist (ESS) for Pine Street’s workforce development program. After completing their first eight weeks of either the iCater food services program or the housekeeping program, trainees are paired with an ESS like Lauren to help set them on a path for professional and personal success. “I meet with each…
Teresa left an abusive family situation, looking for a better life. Even though she worked three jobs, she was unable to find an apartment she could afford because of Boston’s high cost of living. “I was homeless for almost nine years and lived on the streets for several years,” says Teresa. “I learned about Pine…
