As Pine Street Inn President & Executive Director Lyndia Downie says, “One night in shelter is too many.” To help prevent individuals from entering the shelter system, Pine Street is the first organization in Boston to implement a Triage program, similar to emergency rooms. Our goal is to make shelter stays brief, rare and non-recurring whenever possible.

When a new guest arrives at a Pine Street shelter, the Triage team uses an initial resources assessment to calibrate the right level of support. This includes reviewing medical history, substance use challenges, and more.

This conversation with the individual helps Triage staff determine the best course of action. In many instances, family reunification is possible between a guest and family members, so minimal (if any) shelter time is necessary. In other cases, Triage is moving individuals out of homelessness in less than 30 days.

Of the guests we assess, 10% meet once with a Triage specialist and never have to stay in a shelter bed. From that group, less than 1% return to shelter.

If you are in need of emergency shelter, please call 617.892.9228 for our Triage Information line or present to our Men’s Inn (444 Harrison Avenue) or our Yawkey House (363 Albany Street) shelters for Triage services 7 days a week from 9:30 AM–6:00 PM.