Benjamin — A Recipe for a New Beginning

“Pine Street Inn helped me find myself again,” shares Benjamin, who’s rebuilding his life after years of hardship.

Born with a condition that impeded his mobility, Benjamin lived with the pain for years before undergoing surgery as an adult. “There were complications during the surgery,” he recalls. “After the operation, I couldn’t stand for long hours, so I had to leave my job as a dietary aid.”

Without a steady income, Benjamin lost his housing. He made the choice to come to Pine Street’s Men’s Inn shelter. “I stayed in shelter for almost two years before I got my first apartment,” Benjamin remembers.

While he now had a place to call home, Benjamin’s underlying challenges persisted. “After I lost everything, I started using substances to cope,” he shares. “It turned into a problem, and I ended up losing my housing again. I thought I could manage it on my own, but I couldn’t.”

When Benjamin returned to Pine Street in 2014, he was ready for change. With support from his case manager, Benjamin entered recovery, began therapy and found housing. “I’ve been in recovery for five years now,” Benjamin shares proudly. “I’ve had my current apartment in Dorchester for almost six years — I told myself I would never be homeless again.”

Although Benjamin has ongoing mobility issues, he focuses on what he can do to build a stronger future. Earlier this year, Benjamin joined iCater, Pine Street’s culinary social enterprise and job training program. “I’m learning about budgeting, kitchen skills and teamwork,” he says. “It keeps me busy and makes me feel good about myself.”

Looking ahead, Benjamin hopes to work in food services and return to school to study business management. “I just turned 50, and I want to do something meaningful,” shares Benjamin. “Pine Street gave me hope again.”