Weldon — A Case for Second Chances

Weldon came to Boston for love. He was born and raised in Texas, where he met the woman who became his wife. “After we married, she wanted to move back to her hometown of Boston,” he says. “So, I followed.”

Weldon studied law at UMass Boston and spent 13 years as a paralegal at a prestigious firm. “The people were like family,” he shares. When the firm unexpectedly closed, everything changed. “I lost my job and myself,” says Weldon.

Around the same time, his marriage fell apart. “Before the firm closed, I started drinking to cope with the pressures of the job,” Weldon shares. “This led to our separation.”

After the separation, Weldon turned to Pine Street Inn. “Being in shelter helped me get back on my feet,” he says. “I cut back on drinking, found work at a hotel through a friend and eventually moved in with my cousin. We lived together for nine years.”

Life shifted again when his cousin moved to Georgia. Weldon couldn’t afford rent on his own, so he found himself back at Pine Street — discouraged but determined to find housing again.

“My case manager told me, ‘You’ll be out of here soon,’ and she was right,” remembers Weldon. Together, they filled out housing applications every day for three months. “The persistence paid off,” he says. “My case manager helped me find an apartment at a Pine Street residence in the Back Bay.”

Weldon’s personality shines throughout his space, with shelves filled with law journals and art adorning the walls. “My home is an extension of me,” shares Weldon.

At 69, Weldon spends his days reading and visiting his daughters. “My life has changed for the better since coming to Pine Street,” he says. “There will always be challenges, but I believe in myself now — and that’s what matters.”