Lisa — Rebuilding Her Life

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 early age, Lisa felt called to help others—an instinct that eventually led her to nursing. For over 30 years, Lisa worked in long-term care facilities and hospitals, often juggling multiple jobs to support her family. She raised two children and later moved to the Boston area to be closer to her grandchildren. “I’ve always been someone people leaned on—at work, at home. Caregiving is just part of who I am,” she says. But after decades of stability, Lisa’s life took an unexpected turn.

In 2018, she became a victim of identity theft. Her credit was destroyed, and she lost access to her bank accounts. Not long after, the stress of the situation forced her to leave her job. “It felt like everything I’d built just unraveled overnight,” she recalls. With no steady income, she burned through her savings trying to stay afloat — first in her own apartment, then in motels, and eventually on friends’ couches.

By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Lisa was out of options. “I never thought I’d be in that position. I thought I could fix it on my own. But I couldn’t.” That’s when she was connected to Pine Street Inn through a temporary shelter program in Boston. “I was scared. I didn’t think I belonged in a shelter. I was ashamed,” she says. “But the staff didn’t see me as a problem — they saw me as a person.”

Lisa’s case manager helped her access healthcare, apply for benefits, and begin the long process of recovering her identity and financial records. Over time, she was placed in a supportive housing program through Pine Street. Today, Lisa lives in an apartment where she’s rebuilding her life piece by piece.

“When I think about where I was a few years ago, I’m just grateful. I had to learn how to ask for help, which wasn’t easy,” she says. “Pine Street gave me that chance. They reminded me I still had value.”