Thomas “TJ” — Turning His Life Around

TJ came to Boston looking for a fresh start after having conflicts with his family about his drinking. Because of his worsening addiction and the high cost of living in Boston, he became homeless soon after arriving.

“I moved to Boston after my mother asked me to leave the house,” TJ says. “I began drinking in my early 20s. By the time I was 35, I had become a full-blown alcoholic. One day, my mom just couldn’t stand seeing me that way and asked me to leave.”

When TJ came to Boston, he was living on the streets and drinking heavily. “It was the winter of 2017,” TJ says. “I was sleeping on the street — often passed out from drinking. I had gotten frostbite and my toes were infected. I ended up at the hospital where the doctor let me know that the toes on one foot would need to be amputated.”

“I left the hospital with this news, and began drinking to forget,” TJ says. “I had passed out on the streets again, but someone called an ambulance, and I ended up back in the hospital. This time, I accepted what had to happen.”

“It was a real low point, but ended up being a blessing in disguise,” TJ says. “I learned about Pine Street Inn after doing some research. They saved my life.”

“I remember sitting on the end of the bed one night in the shelter and thinking, ‘what have I done?’” TJ says. “I started looking for addiction treatment options. I’ve been in recovery for five years now. Pine Street helped me turn my life around.”

TJ has been a tenant in one of Pine Street’s residences for the last five years and is focused on giving back. “I love my apartment, and I understand what community is now,” TJ says. “The struggle to beat addiction is real. I’m focused on my recovery and working as a peer mentor to help others.”