Weldon came to Boston for love. He was born and raised in Texas, where he met the woman who became his wife. “After we married, she wanted to move back to her hometown of Boston,” he says. “So, I followed.” Weldon studied law at UMass Boston and spent 13 years as a paralegal at a…
When life becomes overwhelming, Stella turns to the one constant she can rely on: music. “Singing helps me feel like myself again,” she says. Just as music restores her spirit, a move to Massachusetts restored Stella’s sense of purpose. She dedicated herself to caring for others, training as a certified nursing assistant and working in…
“From the outside, it looked like I was doing great,” Gregory reflects. “But inside, I felt empty.” Gregory, 43, grew up outside Boston. “After I left school, I lost my way,” he shares. “I didn’t have a strong support system and turned to substances to cope with feeling lost.” His life began to change for…
“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…
Jeffrey learned early that life can be difficult. “I was bullied throughout childhood and navigating a fractured family,” he recalls. “I felt like the kid nobody wanted around.” He also faced panic attacks and other mental health challenges. “The symptoms were overwhelming — panic attacks, confusion,” he remembers. “I didn’t have the right support system,…
Lisa was born and raised on Cape Cod, where her early years were defined by family, faith and a strong work ethic. “We didn’t have much growing up, but we were close,” she says. Lisa’s father worked long hours in construction, and her mother stayed home to care for Lisa and her siblings. From an…
Growing up in Florida, Thorice longed for something more. “I didn’t like it much. I always knew I wanted something different.” Summers in Boston planted that dream. “My grandmother and I would visit my aunt who lived in the city. There were more opportunities here — I knew I’d come back one day,” Thorice says….
“A year ago, I was sleeping in my car,” Sam reflects. “Now, I wake up every morning in my own apartment. It still feels unreal.” Sam grew up in Boston, the only boy among five sisters. “I was always getting into trouble as a teenager,” he recalls. “My mom and uncle encouraged me to join…
According to United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, over 35,000 veterans experience homelessness in the U.S. At Pine Street Inn, we work with 300 veterans each year through our supportive housing, shelters, job training, street outreach and behavioral health programs. Jonathan Kolodziej, one of Pine Street’s behavioral health…
“What started as a social activity when I was 18 turned into a serious problem,” shares Claude, reflecting on his struggles with alcohol. “Things worsened after my father passed away. Then I went through a divorce and lost my job, and my dependence on alcohol continued to deepen.” Claude knew he needed a fresh start….
“I always say there’s no one path for recovery,” says Anita Nichols-Habib, Pine Street Inn’s associate director of housing recovery services. In her role, Anita oversees two different programs related to recovery and substance use disorder. “The housing stability support program is for people who are formerly homeless and in independent housing with either a…
Melissa grew up in Boston in a large, close-knit family that struggled financially. Melissa began working in retail at the age of 14 to bring in additional income. Several years later, she developed a substance use disorder, which led to estrangement from her family and to homelessness. “I became addicted to prescription drugs following an…
