Vaughn — “A Sense of Community”

Vaughn became homeless several years ago when a long-term relationship ended, and he moved out of the apartment he shared with his partner. Vaughn looked for a place of his own, but he could not afford the high rents in the Boston area. With no place to go, he ended up sleeping in abandoned buildings and parks before finally coming into shelter.

“I was tired of living on the street and decided to go to Pine Street Inn. That’s where I met a caseworker who helped me through the housing application process,” says Vaughn, who secured an apartment in one of Pine Street’s residences.

“Now, I have my own apartment. I come and go freely, and I can do my laundry easily,” says Vaughn, who added that it can be difficult at some shelters to do basic chores like washing clothes. “People in the building are friendly. There are people I know in the neighborhood. I meet other tenants just by sitting on the front steps.” A convenience store, a pharmacy, a hospital and his dental practice are within walking distance and a grocery store is a short bus ride away.

“There’s a real sense of community here. Tenants sometimes play cards or dominoes or cook together in the communal kitchen,” says Vaughn.