Fall 2018: The Innsider

Fall 2018

Innsider News from Pine Street Inn

Move Out of Homelessness

In Boston,

September is well known for the stresses and headaches of moving.

Leases are up, moving trucks are stuck under bridges, and people are scrambling to their next place. Even if you are not the one moving, you still are witness to the chaos all around!

Ad agency Allen & Gerritsen has wrapped a Gentle Giant moving truck to help bring awareness to Pine Street during moving season.

The opposite is true for guests at Pine Street Inn. Where most people see pain and sweat in the moving process, our guests see hope and opportunity. For many of our tenants, moving into a home provides a place where they can sleep soundly for the first time in years. A place where they can form a community. A place where they can get away from the hardship of living on the streets. A place where they can begin to rebuild their lives.

Support from our generous friends in the community makes it possible for us to provide safe, stable housing to transform our shelter guests into housing tenants.

As we move toward our 50th anniversary in 2019, we are grateful for the support of Boston ad agency Allen & Gerritsen as they launch a “Move Out of Homelessness” campaign. Check out “Pine Street Partners for 50th Anniversary” on page 4. 

A Veteran, Homeless No Longer When DJ walks into the room,

it’s not just his 6´3˝ stature that you notice – it’s his smile. DJ is a tenant in Pine Street’s house on Hartford Street in Dorchester. Hartford provides a safe, stable place, along with support for homeless veterans.

DJ joined the Navy right out of high school. His uncle and father were in the Navy as well, so he felt called to serve. After being discharged, he moved back to Roxbury where his family lived. When his mother became ill, DJ moved in to help care for her.

In 2004, DJ’s mother passed away and his life started to fall apart. Although he was working as a computer technician, he was not earning enough for rent. He looked for other jobs without any luck. Between his own health issues, including several back surgeries and major financial challenges, DJ became homeless.

It was then that he connected with Pine Street, where staff told him about the veterans’ program at Hartford Street.

DJ in his room at Hartford Street.

“I never thought, ‘I want to be homeless,’” DJ said. “I didn’t want to be in this situation.

Luckily this program was here for me when I needed it. They’re helping me get my thoughts in order. I’m taking a better look at myself, and it’s really motivated me to help someone else and pay it forward. My ambition is back.”

(Continued on page 2)

From the

President In Boston, less than 3 percent of homeless men and women are unsheltered, compared with 50+ percent unsheltered in similar size cities elsewhere in the country.

When Pine Street Inn was founded in 1969, it provided shelter to 200 homeless men, offering “a hot and a cot” – a simple sandwich and coffee, and extremely modest accommodations for the night. Guests were safe and warm, but returned to the streets each day with little expectation of anything more.

Over the years, the organization evolved and changed dramatically. Today, we support close to 2,000 men and women each day, operating more permanent housing beds than shelter beds.

We know that housing is possible, even for those who have been on the street or in shelter for years. New initiatives have made it possible to move men and women out of shelter very quickly – or better yet, find immediate

alternatives to coming into shelter at all.

As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2019, we cannot say that our work is complete, but we have made great strides. The 50th anniversary is a bittersweet moment – a time to take stock of all we have accomplished over the years; at the same time, there are still many men and women in need of a stable place to live.

Working together with the City of Boston and other partner agencies, we know we are having an impact: in Boston, less than 3 percent of homeless men and women are unsheltered, compared with 50+ percent unsheltered in cities like Seattle and San Francisco. But even 3 percent is too many – so we continue to dedicate ourselves to ending homelessness in Boston.

Your support makes this critical work possible. On behalf of all the men and women who come to Pine Street for support in rebuilding their lives – please accept my deepest gratitude. I look forward to keeping you updated on our 50th anniversary activities and events as we move through the next year. 

(A Veteran, Homeless No Longer, continued from page 1) At Hartford Street, tenants have their own rooms with shared kitchen, bathrooms and common areas. Staff at the house help tenants connect with community services and maintain stability, as well as advocate for access to maximum veterans’ benefits.

DJ attends all the house meetings, and even cooks for some of them. Yvonne Williams, his case manager, smiles when she talks about DJ. “He’s a go-getter. He wants to be productive; he wants to work.”

DJ is grateful for the support. “I love the staff. I appreciate everything they do for me. They take care of me – not just because I’m a veteran, but because I’m a human being.” 

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Making a Difference Every Day Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown makes a difference in people’s lives every day.

As a Housing Placement Navigator on Pine Street’s Housing Placement Program (HPP) team, Stephanie is dedicated to finding housing for chronically homeless men and women. In partnership with organizations like Home Start and the Boston Housing Authority, she helps place people from Boston’s citywide list of nearly 500 chronically homeless individuals.

Part of the HPP team for two years, Stephanie has worked at Pine Street for more than 10 years, previously as a case manager at the Men’s Inn. Her calling to work at Pine Street grew out of personal experience: several of Stephanie’s family members had experienced homelessness – some even receiving services from Pine Street.

She says the best part of her job is “giving somebody an opportunity to be housed. It’s so rewarding to be able to do that for others.”

According to Stephanie, the tipping point varies as to when people finally seek housing. Some have exhausted other options, gone through every program and system, and finally realized they cannot do it alone. Others are ready after a staff member has built a sense of trust with them.

“You become people’s extended family. I have clients that I placed in housing eight years ago who still stay in touch.

One gentleman loves to give me updates about his grandkids. He’s still so grateful for our help.”

The biggest barrier to finding housing is the lack of affordable housing in the Boston area. While Pine Street supports close to 900 people in permanent housing every day, there is still a need for more units. “We know that this type of housing works: there is a 91 percent retention rate for tenants after a year,” she adds. 

Carl Moves Out of Homelessness Things are looking up for Carl, a guest at the Men’s Inn and homeless for six years. Carl is getting

ready to move out of homelessness and into an apartment, thanks to Stephanie Brown and others on the HPP team. He also recently enrolled in Pine Street’s food services training program, iCater, as he looks ahead to a life beyond shelter.

“The goal is not only to place someone in housing, but to ensure that they stay there,” explains Stephanie. Because Carl is on the city’s list of chronically homeless individuals, he will be paired with an advocate and receive six months of stabilization services. “Carl will still be connected to us here as he gets settled,” she says.

“Pine Street is a good place if you need help,” Carl says.

“There are good people here to talk to and to help you to fill out all the forms and keep your appointments. I can’t believe I’m moving into a place of my own!” 

Stephanie and Carl discuss his new apartment and job.

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Pine Street Partners th for 50 Anniversary As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2019, we are spreading awareness of our commitment to

ensuring that men and women have a safe, stable place to live – a home.

DON HAS MOVED FROM A HOUSE IN MALDEN TO A BOAT IN ANCHORAGE TO THE STREETS OF BOSTON. AND THEN HE MOVED OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. Pine Street Inn moves homeless men and women into permanent housing, so they can regain their pride and independence.

With the generous support of Allen & Gerritsen, a Boston advertising agency, we are launching a “Move Out of Homelessness” campaign, which will include print ads, television and radio spots, billboards and more.

One of the ads highlights Don, a tenant in one of Pine Street’s housing locations in Dorchester. Previously homeless, Pine Street helped Don find permanent housing. “I remember when I first walked in to my apartment, I kissed the floor,” he recalls.

Please be on the lookout for the campaign! 

Donate at PineStreetInn.org

Help Fill

the Turkey Truck!

Help provide thousands of delicious

meals this holiday season and throughout the year by filling the Turkey Truck! Your donation will support the purchase of much-needed protein that will provide nourishment to the many men and women in our shelter and housing programs.

To donate to the Turkey Truck, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/turkeytruck 

Honor Family, Friends, Clients and Customers

This holiday season, help someone move out of

homelessness while you pay tribute to a special person in your life with a gift to Pine Street.

For a donation or $25 or more from November 1 through December 31, we will send a special holiday acknowledgment to your honoree, letting him or her know of your thoughtful gesture. It’s an easy – and meaningful – gift!

We are so grateful to our friends who think of Pine Street during the holiday season (and all year round).

To donate, go to www.pinestreetinn.org/donate or call 617.892.9170. 

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A Beautiful Night for Summer Inn the City 2018 We are so grateful

to everyone who supported and attended the 6th Annual Summer Inn the City event, hosted by our Innbassadors! On a beautiful July evening, more than 225 guests enjoyed a night by the harbor at the Moakley Courthouse while listening to great music, enjoying delicious food and drinks, and winning fun prizes.

Pine Street’s Innbassadors raised funds through their annual Summer Inn the City event.

To find out more and get involved, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/innbassadors

All of the funds raised will have a direct impact on our programs, which support nearly 2,000 individuals in Boston every day. We are especially grateful to our presenting sponsors, Natixis Investment Managers and Atwater Wealth Management.

Pine Street’s Innbassadors are emerging leaders in Greater Boston, committed to building support for Pine Street through fundraising, networking and volunteer events. 

Tenant Has an Award-Winning Green Thumb AJ, a tenant at our Upton Street house, has a passion for gardening that earned him a First Place prize in Mayor Walsh’s 2018 Garden Contest.

AJ was homeless for nearly 30 years before he came to Pine Street. Now he’s thriving at Upton Street, where he tends to his garden several times a day. AJ jokingly refers to his flowers as “his children” because of how much he loves caring for them and watching them grow.

His favorite part about gardening is “giving life to something,” because “that’s what Pine Street did” for him. He even created a “triage” section for his plants to nurse them back to health.

AJ in his award-winning garden.

This past summer, AJ attended the official awards ceremony where he received a golden trowel plaque, presented by Mayor Walsh. Congratulations to AJ!  [5]

Community Friends Students Help Welcome New Tenants Eighth graders at the Pierce School in Brookline assembled 15 Welcome Home Baskets for our tenants who are moving into their new apartments! As part of their year-end project, students and families collected new items ranging from pillows and sheets to toiletries and gift cards.

Our thanks to these students for planning this special service event!

If you would like to host a drive for much-needed Welcome Home Baskets, contact Maura Crowley, maura.crowley@pinestreetinn.org or 617.892.9176.

Natixis Service Week Whether helping to prepare meals in our kitchen, putting together outreach bags for our vans, serving dinner at our shelters, or pinning boutonnieres on our job training graduates, employees at Natixis Investment Managers assisted in many meaningful ways during their annual service week at Pine Street. We are grateful for the ongoing support and leadership from Natixis leadership supports Pine Street. our friends at Natixis!

A Barbecue Treat!

Students assemble baskets for our tenants.

Over the summer, InnCouncil volunteers hosted a barbecue for guests in our Stabilization program.

Attendees enjoyed delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit salad, and all the fixings!

Corporate Corner: Procter & Gamble We are pleased to spotlight our partnership with Procter & Gamble, who has been involved with Pine Street for 25 years. Over the years, P&G has donated funds, attended our signature events, and volunteered their time.

We could not do this important work without support from generous partners like P&G – thank you!

If you would like to know more about corporate partnerships at Pine Street, contact Scottie Wait, scottie.wait@pinestreetinn.org or 617.892.9187.

InnCouncil volunteers grill delicious bites.

Thank you to our InnCouncil, who engage in a variety of advocacy and outreach efforts, create fundraising events, and sponsor activities to benefit our guests and tenants.

To find out more or to become a member of our InnCouncil, contact inncouncil@pinestreetinn.org.

Innsider Published three times a year by the Development and External Affairs Department

Pine Street Inn 444 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118 General Information: 617.892.9100 Donations: 617.892.9170 Volunteers: 617.892.9184 www.pinestreetinn.org

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