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…
Amilton worked as an assistant manager at a restaurant before switching to a career in construction. “I never thought that I would be homeless. I worked hard to support my family,” says Amilton. However, when he and his wife separated, Amilton moved out of their shared home to live with a friend who owned a…
Vaughn became homeless several years ago when a long-term relationship ended, and he moved out of the apartment he shared with his partner. Vaughn looked for a place of his own, but he could not afford the high rents in the Boston area. With no place to go, he ended up sleeping in abandoned buildings…
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…
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…
