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 H. 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…
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 M. 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…
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…
Michelle grew up in the Midwest and married at a young age. As time went on, her husband began abusing her, and she made the difficult decision to leave. “As the abuse got worse, I knew I had to leave my husband, or I wouldn’t survive,” Michelle says. “I ended up in Boston but had…
A Tennessee native, Will C. worked in the insurance field in Texas for 25 years. Several years ago, he became the victim of financial fraud. “It was someone I had known and trusted for many years,” says Will. “It upended my life and left me broke.” Will had heard that Boston was a good place…
Ricky’s life started in the foster care system. He was adopted as a child and moved to a town outside of Boston where he attended school. “I struggled in school and was diagnosed with a developmental disorder as a child,” says Ricky. As an adult, Ricky moved to an apartment in South Boston, where he…
Originally from Cape Verde, Aldina M., 64, came to the United States in 2002, becoming homeless six years ago, following a prolonged hospitalization. She had lived in her own apartment for many years, but because of her medical bills, Aldina could no longer afford it. “I thought about returning to home, but then I learned…
Roberto grew up in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood, where he lived for most of his life. For 35 years, he worked two jobs — in the auto parts industry and in event security, but during the pandemic, these industries shut down. “I was able to survive for a while,” Roberto says. “I gave up my…