Wayne, 53, grew up in South Boston. From a young age, he knew he wanted to move beyond his neighborhood and experience more of the world. “I wanted to take my life beyond my local community,” Wayne says. “When I was 17, I joined the United States Marine Corps. I saw combat in Desert Storm…
Michael faced significant challenges in his early life due to his parents’ substance use and mental health issues. When he was 5 years old, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) intervened and placed him into the foster care system. Ultimately, he was adopted into a stable and supportive home. Michael, who has a learning…
Philip, college-educated and in his early 30s, held a job as a communications professional. He had struggled with anxiety for many years; when he experienced pressures at work and ongoing issues with depression combined with family struggles, Philip became homeless. “As my depression grew worse, the relationship with my family became strained. I knew it…
Taylor Doan, associate director of housing clinicians at Pine Street Inn, oversees a team of eight behavioral health and medical clinicians who work with tenants. “I started working at Pine Street in 2020 after I earned my Masters of Social Work,” Taylor says. “My goal is to help improve people’s lives — whether through stabilization…
Lerancia ran a shoe store and worked hard to support herself. When her store was vandalized, she had to close the business. Suffering from the sudden loss of income and unable to recover quickly enough, Lerancia became homeless. She needed a safe place to stay while she looked for work. “I knew I wanted to…
Denise, 49, spent nearly a decade in Florida caring for her sick mother. When her mother passed away, Denise decided she needed a change, so she moved to Boston to live with her cousin. However, that fell through, and Denise became homeless. “I came to Boston to be closer to medical experts to treat my…
Born in Dorchester and raised with his siblings by a single mother, Donald has always been a family-oriented person. As an adult, he worked hard to support his children, but some poor choices led him down a challenging path that included incarceration. “My focus was on money, cars and other things, which eventually led to…
Leroy came to the United States from Jamaica, looking for career opportunities. While he originally lived in Florida, he moved to Boston for a promising career as a cook at a busy Jamaican restaurant. When several serious health issues made it difficult for Leroy to work a full-time schedule, his medical bills mounted, and Leroy…
Edgar, a father of two daughters, worked hard as a maintenance engineer to provide for them. For over 20 years, he lived in Hyde Park and raised his family. In 2023, Edgar began to have significant issues with his knees, and his work environment caused him daily stress. Soon after, Edgar lost his job. “I…
José came to the United States from Brazil many years ago. “I came here to make a better life for myself,” José says. He worked construction for many years and lived a simple life: “It was hard work. I’d go to my job, come back home, and then go to work again.” When the Covid…
Kelsi grew up in the Massachusetts foster care system. “When I turned 18, I ‘aged out’ of the system,” Kelsi says. “Having grown up in institutional settings, I wasn’t prepared to take care of myself.” Soon, Kelsi became homeless and lived on the streets for many years. “There were times when I stayed in shelter,…
Matthew grew up on the South Shore of Massachusetts. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. Money was tight and his family moved frequently. Matthew attended two different high schools and never felt connected to any particular “hometown.” Once in college, Matthew enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. “I enlisted in the…
