Innsider
Innsider
Season of Celebration
Fall Edition | November 2023 | Pine Street Inn is expanding the number of holidays that we observe during November and December as we acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of our guests and staff.
Annmarie Smith — You Can’t Give Up, and Neither Will We
Fall Edition | October 2023 | Annmarie began her Pine Street Inn career sixteen years ago working on the facilities team. Her commitment to helping others led her to become a residential counselor in shelter and then a case manager at a permanent supportive housing site for formerly homeless women.
Will Ayala — Compliance, Property Management
Fall Edition | October 2023 | Helping us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is a member of our Pine Street Inn team. Will, a Boston native, has family ties to both Puerto Rico and Spain. Growing up, Will lived in tight-knit communities in Dorchester and the South End that were a melting pot of people from Puerto Rico, Cape Verde and more.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Fall Edition | September 2023 | Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and honors the history and culture of the Hispanic and Latino/Latina/Latinx communities.
Mominul Islam — Making a Difference Through Data
Fall Edition | September 2023 | Mominul Islam is a data analyst with Pine Street’s Department of Program Evaluation. In his role here, Mominul works to tell the story of Pine Street through data, while improving processes to ensure that the organization has solid data for the most accurate reporting.
Katelyn Anderson
Spring Edition | August 2023 | Katelyn Anderson, Pine Street Inn’s director of men's stabilization and the MATCH program, has always had a passion for working with the most vulnerable populations.
Incorporating Metabolic Risk Factor Education into iCater
Spring Edition | August 2023 | Metabolic syndrome is when three or more risk factors co-occur. The combination of hypertension, high blood glucose, abnormal cholesterol/triglyceride levels and obesity can result in the increased risk of heart disease, Type II diabetes, stroke, and death.
MassHealth Redetermination Helps Pine Street Guests Stay Covered
Spring Edition | July 2023 | As COVID-era automatic renewals for MassHealth end, thousands of people across Massachusetts are at risk of losing their health care coverage. As a response, Pine Street launched the MassHealth Redetermination Campaign to assist people in retaining coverage.
Betul Gaffari
Spring Edition | June 2023 | Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Betul Gaffari (she/her) came to Boston to attend Boston College. She learned about Pine Street Inn through BC’s Pulse program, which teaches students about social justice, by having them fulfill a volunteer service requirement.
Tai — “I’m a connector. That’s my gift.”
Spring Edition | June 2023 | Tai Irwin, one of Pine Street Inn’s employment and stabilization specialists, is a member of the team placing our workforce development trainees in jobs following their graduation.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
Spring Edition | May 2023 | Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is observed in the United States during the month of May, and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the community in the United States.
Joanne James — A Light in a Dark Place
Winter Edition | March 2023 | Joanne James has been with Pine Street Inn since 2016, working in various roles, including with the Triage team that works to prevent people from becoming homeless. Joanne is currently the director of the Women’s Inn, where she works to build a team that focuses on making the lives of our guests better.
Claire Peterson – Moving People from the Streets to a Home
Winter Edition | March 2023 | Claire Peterson, LCSW, is an outreach clinician with Pine Street Inn’s . Now in her second year with Pine Street, Claire has found her calling.
Allie Cantaffa: WFD Employment & Stabilization Specialist
Winter Edition | February 2023 | Allie is the definition of a “team player.” As a Workforce Development job placement specialist, Allie works with our food service and housekeeping trainees to help them find employment following completion of the training program.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Winter Edition | January 2023 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year to honor one of the most important leaders in U.S. history.
Celebrating Kwanzaa
Winter Edition | December 2022 | The PSI People of Color Coalition (POCC) Committee is committed to promoting diversity and acceptance of People of Color within the organization through education and by sharing our experiences with our peers. As a result, we would like to take this opportunity to share the history of Kwanzaa.
A Conversation with Wayne Thomas
Winter Edition | December 2022 | Wayne Tomas has worked as the morning Men’s Inn supervisor for the past three years — anyone walking through the front doors can tell that his positive energy is contagious. “I enjoy interacting with the guests and being hands-on. The more I see someone who is feeling down, the more I want to build them back up.”
Everybody Has a Story
Fall Edition | November 2022 | Every person here — our guests, tenants, staff, donors and volunteers — has a story of how Pine Street Inn has touched their lives. We hope you enjoy learning about just a few of these stories.
Leo Adorno
Fall Edition | September 2022 | Leo Adorno, director of housing placement for Pine Street’s “Place Me Home” program, has been a part of the Pine Street Inn team for 29 years, working in roles numerous roles throughout the organization.
Join the Innbassadors for
Spring Edition | August 2022 | Pine Street's Innbassadors, a group of young professionals committed to helping end homelessness in Boston, are on a mission to provide a fresh, new pillow to everyone in our permanent housing locations.
Lexii Coleman
Spring Edition | August 2022 | Lexii Coleman is a case manager supervisor in Pine Street’s New Chardon residence where she provides support services for 20 women. “I am honored to be able to work with people in this community and help them continue to grow and flourish,” Lexii said.
August is Black Business Month
Spring Edition | August 2022 | August is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the more than 3 million Black-owned businesses across the country and their important contribution to innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and the economy.
Supporting Pine Street Inn One Mile at a Time
Spring Edition | July 2022 | Carl Nagy-Koechlin and his son Josh Nagy are cycling across America and raising funds for Pine Street Inn along the way. Carl has spent his career working towards creating more affordable housing, with a desire to help his community. His passion for community development and helping individuals who have fallen on hard times was passed on to his son, Josh, at a young age. “I have learned from the work my dad does that housing is essential for nearly every other aspect of life,” Josh says.
A Veteran’s Journey to Recovery
Spring Edition | July 2022 | Marcus, an Army veteran, has had a long journey since his days in the military. Through the years, he has overcome many obstacles including addiction, homelessness, and other life challenges.
Juneteenth
Spring Edition | June 2022 | This year marks the second anniversary of the Juneteenth holiday in the US. Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865 proclamation of freedom for the enslaved people in Texas which was the last state of the Confederacy with slavery. While Juneteenth is considered the "longest-running African-American holiday” and has been called "America's second Independence Day,” it wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021.
Black History Month
Winter Edition | February 2022 | Black History Month was unofficially started in 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. That year, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was founded to research and promote the achievement of Black Americans and other people of African descent.
The Ninety Nine Restaurants' Annual Have a Heart Fundraiser
Winter Edition | February 2022 | We are thrilled to partner again this year with 99 Restaurants for their annual Have a Heart fundraiser. From now through February 20, 2022, 48 locations in eastern Massachusetts and Salem, NH, are raising funds for Pine Street Inn.
The Monthly Innsider: October
Fall Edition | October 2021 | This issue features Pine Street Inn's exciting campaign completion, the success of our Boston Marathon team, and more
Eric Runs Again for Pine Street Inn!
Fall Edition | October 2021 | Eric has been a monthly donor - an Innkeeper - for about three years now. Last year, Eric was part of our Boston Marathon team, and ran a marathon distance during the BAA's 'marathon week' which was virtual due to the global pandemic. This year, he is lacing up his sneakers again for Pine Street Inn to complete all 26.2 miles on the historic Boston Marathon course. "I’m proud to be running to support Pine Street Inn and its Boston’s Way Home Fund, which will be used to create 200 new units of housing for chronically homeless men and women in the Boston area.”
David is running a seventh time for Pine Street Inn!
Fall Edition | October 2021 | Whenever I've volunteered, I've been impressed how dedicated and professional everyone is. There is tremendous pride in their work, and I'm proud to run 26.2 miles this year in honor of Pine Street.”
Story of Hope: Donnie, a Pine Street tenant
Fall Edition | September 2021 | "I worked in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska for many years. It was hard work and it took a big toll on my body and mental health. After returning from Alaska, I wanted to reconnect with my family, but I had a variety of health problems and did not have good coping skills. I started drinking and ended up homeless."
Caz: "I wish more people knew how hard those dealing with addiction work every day to beat their disease."
Fall Edition | September 2021 | I am a Substance Use Disorder Clinician, and facilitate group therapy, which is the best part of my day. I love getting to collaborate with and witness firsthand the determination, wisdom, heart, and humor of our clients. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of stigma surrounding those who live with substance use disorder. I wish more people knew how hard those dealing with addiction work every day to beat their disease.
99 Restaurant & Pub's "Have a Heart" Fundraiser A Success!
Fall Edition | September 2021 | We are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with the 99 Restaurant & Pub for their annual "Have a Heart" fundraiser for Pine Street Inn! The pandemic did not stop 48 restaurant locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire from raising over $68,000! We are grateful for their enduring support, spanning over 40 years.
Rita chats about the Pine Street Inn post-detox stabilization program
Fall Edition | September 2021 | Rita Chapdelaine is Pine Street Inn’s Senior Director of Behavioral Health. She oversees Pine Street Inn’s post-detox program, clinical stabilization services and specialized housing which provide crucial services to the community. Rita chatted with us about the stabilization program for homeless men struggling with substance misuse.
The Monthly Innsider: August 2021
Spring Edition | August 2021 | This issue features the Pine Street Inn Boston Marathon team, Lyndia speaking on GBH, and a recap of the Boston Mayoral Forum we helped host.
Meet Pine Street's Boston Marathon Team
Spring Edition | August 2021 | As an official partner of the John Hancock Marathon Non-Profit Program, Pine Street has been granted five bibs for the 2021 Boston Marathon. We are thrilled to introduce our team of runners, whose fundraising efforts will support Pine Street's work helping individuals move from the streets and shelter into the stability and safety of a permanent home. Thank you to our runners and their supporters!
'Huge Plus,' But Not Enough: Lyndia Downie on Federal Eviction Moratorium
Spring Edition | August 2021 | "We know when people get evicted, not every person walks to the doors of Pine Street Inn," she said. "People will double up, they'll go to friends and family. But eventually, we do know that 15-20% of those folks end up in shelters."
Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals Hosts Mayoral Forum on Homelessness
Spring Edition | July 2021 | How will the next Mayor of Boston address homelessness? On Wednesday, July 28, 2021, Pine Street Inn and the Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals hosted a virtual forum with the candidates for Boston mayor, focused on homelessness and housing.
The Monthly Innsider: July 2021
Spring Edition | July 2021 | Register for the upcoming Boston Mayoral forum Pine Street Inn is co-hosting with the Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals, learn about iCater Boston's recent milestone, and more!
The Monthly Innsider: June 2021
Spring Edition | June 2021 | This issue features the three new Pine Street Inn Board members, marks Juneteenth in our community, and how our workforce development programs prepare trainees for new careers.
Lewis: There might be someone experiencing homelessness, who feels the odds are against them, but I would say 'no, Pine Street is here.'
Spring Edition | May 2021 | "After getting out of the military, I struggled with addiction and homelessness. I came to Pine Street Inn, where I joined the iCater food service training program. I just moved into Pine Street's new housing on Seaver Street in Dorchester. I really like how my home is close to my job. I am so happy to have stable housing with support services - it keeps me pointed in the right direction."
Apartments for homeless to be built after lawsuit over parking settled
Spring Edition | May 2021 | This housing development partnership with The Community Builders can now move forward in Jamaica Plain. The development will create 202 units of housing, of which 140 will be for individuals experiencing homelessness, with supportive social services onsite.
The Monthly Innsider: April 2021
Spring Edition | April 2021 | This issue features Troy's story of moving into housing after experiencing homelessness for a decade, our virtual Home Remedy event, and Pine Street Inn President & CEO Lyndia Downie's upcoming recognitions at commencement ceremonies.
Statement of Solidarity With AAPI Community
Winter Edition | March 2021 | Pine Street Inn has a long history with the Asian community. Located on Pine Street in Chinatown from 1969-1980, in a shared space with the Chinese Evangelical Church, our guests were treated with generosity and kindness by the community. These are our neighbors, and we cannot stay silent. We must stand together against hatred of all kinds, raising our awareness and our voices.
The Pine Street Inn Monthly Innsider: March 2021
Winter Edition | March 2021 | Pine Street Inn supports and empowers women out of homelessness. This issue features Louisa's story of hope, shares the exciting news about special housing for vulnerable women, and highlights Kim's experience working as a housing placement specialist for Pine Street Inn.
Story of Hope: Louisa
Winter Edition | March 2021 | Louisa grew up outside of Boston, and had a happy childhood. In her 30s, she found herself caught in an abusive relationship. One night, she ran away from her partner, and wound up in an accident. Her life took another turn a few years ago when her father died and her mother moved into a nursing home. As a result, she became homeless and cycled from one shelter to another for the past four years. Pine Street Inn staff succeeded in building a strong relationship with her over time. After submitting many applications, she is thrilled to have moved into her own place.
The Pine Street Innsider: February 2021 Issue
Winter Edition | February 2021 | This month: 35 years of outreach services helping people move from the streets to housing, the importance of the homeless census, and our "Have a Heart" fundraiser with 99 Restaurants!
A Profile: Mike O'Neill, Outreach Clinician
Winter Edition | February 2021 | "My favorite moment is when I give a client keys to their own apartment. All the ups and downs that we go through together are worth it to no longer have to see that individual in that doorway, in that park, on that bench."
Reflection: National Homeless Memorial Day
Winter Edition | December 2020 | The winter solstice is the longest, darkest night of the year. When you're homeless and vulnerable, every night can seem like the longest. We remember Tom. He lived outdoors, resisting invitations to come inside to shelter. But we never gave up on him. Tom's death affected all of us. At the same time, we were so grateful to have given Tom the opportunity to pass with dignity. Today is for Tom, and every person passing without a home.
"The arrival of Covid-19 spurred our shift to telehealth services."
Winter Edition | December 2020 | Joseph is an MSW candidate at Boston College’s School of Social Work. He spoke about his field placement experience in Pine Street’s stabilization program, which is a unique blend of shelter services and structured outpatient treatment for substance use disorders. "It was a challenge and a privilege to support guests at this critical stage in their recoveries," Joseph shared. "The arrival of Covid spurred our shift to telehealth services. As we work to end homelessness, how can we serve as many people as possible while also maintaining high standards of safety and care? It is an honor to be part of that effort in some small way."