Planting the Seeds
Rick Ono is a young man on a mission. In his Park School newsletter, he read about an opportunity to volunteer by working in the vegetable garden at the former Bowditch School, one of Pine Street Inn’s houses in Jamaica Plain. Even though he didn’t know much about gardening, he decided to sign up. At Bowditch, volunteers from Ripples of Hope, founders of the garden, work alongside residents to plant, tend and harvest fresh, healthy vegetables for tenants. “I found that I really liked making a difference in people’s lives, and it’s a great feeling to know that I’m helping provide access to healthy, fresh food,” says Rick. Jean Paul, case manager at Bowditch says, “Working in the garden gives the residents a sense of purpose and the knowledge of where their food comes from. And working alongside volunteers like Rick helps tenants feel part of the community.” Rick helped with the garden on Saturday mornings throughout the summer – setting the stage for what promises to be a lifelong commitment to service in his community.
Rick Ono tends the garden.
Award Winner! Congratulations to Ripples of Hope, first place winner in Mayor Walsh’s 2015 Garden Contest in the Storefront, Organization, or Main Street District Garden category.
Pine Street Innbassadors Raise $20,000 to Help End Homelessness
“NEBH is committed to being a good neighbor to the Mission Hill community, so it is only fitting that NEBH reached out to partner with the residents of Doe House,” says Christine Dwyer, NEBH’s Director of Public Relations and Community Relations.
Over 250 emerging leaders of Boston joined the Pine Street Innbassadors for the third annual Summer Inn the City event, raising $20,000 for Pine Street. Hosted by South End neighbors Ink Block and KP Strategies, the event featured delicious food and drinks from our generous partners, including tacos and oysters from Loco Tacqueria & Oyster Bar, and music from Opyn.Mynd. Pine Street’s President Lyndia Downie said: “I look out and see the next generation of leaders in the fight to end homelessness. We started it, but everyone here, you are going to finish it.” Corporate sponsors of Summer Inn the City include: Natixis Global Asset
(Part of the Community, continued from page 1)
More than 250 people attended the Innbassadors’ Summer Inn the City event.
Management, Atwater Wealth Management, Braemar Energy Ventures, Deloitte, dunnhumby and Putnam Investments. Our thanks to partners who provided food and drinks: 90+ Cellars, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, iCater, Loco Taqueria and Oyster Bar, RIPE Bar Juice, Samuel Adams, swissbakers, Taza Chocolate, WanderLush, and Whole Foods Market South End.
On the last Wednesday of each month, NEBH Chef Jose Camarena cooks up a feast and staff members volunteer to join the residents for dinner and games. A fun time is had by all! To learn more about volunteering in our housing locations, contact Scottie Wait, 617.892.9187 or scottie.wait@pinestreetinn.org. [5]
Community Friends New Neighbors,
New Friends
Sole (and Beef) Mates
Tenants and staff from Ink Block, our new neighbors on Harrison Avenue in the South End, volunteered at Pine Street this summer. We’re excited about this new partnership and look forward to continuing to expand our relationship! Ink Block also hosted our Innbassadors event this summer. (Story on p. 5)
Verde Farms donates organic beef and hotdogs to the Inn.
We are delighted to have a new partnership with Verde Farms and have enjoyed serving their organic beef and hot dogs to our guests. Employees from Verde also came in to serve a delicious pot roast dinner made with their donated meat.
In June, we received 600 pounds of mahi mahi from long-time supporter John Nagle Company. The whole fish needed to be cleaned and filleted for a tasty dinner; who better to call on to help than our friends from Legal Sea Foods! Thank you to both of these long-time food partners! Residents and staff from our neighbors at Ink Block.
Working Together Over the summer, staff from Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy volunteered in our kitchen and learned more about Pine Street’s Outreach services. Greenway staff interact with many homeless individuals in their park and have formed a close relationship with our Outreach team. Director of Outreach Mike Andrick says, “We have a great working relationship with the Greenway staff who help to ensure that guests on the street are treated with dignity and respect. We appreciate this valuable partnership.”
Legal Sea Foods help prep the seafood donation from John Nagle Company.
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Pine Street Inn Innsider Staff from the Rose Kennedy Greenway often interact with homeless individuals.
Published three times a year by the Development and External Affairs Department
444 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118 General Information: 617.892.9100 Donations: 617.892.9170 Volunteers: 617.892.9186 www.pinestreetinn.org
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Fall 2015
Innsider News from Pine Street Inn
Overcoming
Obstacles
Ron T., this year’s trainee speaker at Pine Street’s Job Training
Graduation and Housing Celebration, closed his remarks by saying, “All of you here today have worked hard and overcome major obstacles – you are all true superheroes!”
In his speech, Ron proudly told the audience of fellow graduates and invited guests, that not only had he successfully completed Pine Street’s Boston HandyWorks training program, but that he had also recently (Continued on page 2)
Part of the
John Rich
Dressed in their caps and gowns, more than 100 graduates who had completed training programs in food services and woodworking/ maintenance stood up and cheered loudly, along with those who had moved into housing in the past year. Yes, they had all overcome significant life challenges, including homelessness, to arrive at this day.
Ron T. shared his story with the graduates and guests at Pine Street’s Job Training Graduation.
Community
Homelessness is an isolating experience, and as men and
women move back into a home, it can be challenging to reintegrate into the community. We are always so grateful when individuals, groups or companies step up to partner with tenants in our housing locations to help in this process. One great example is a new partnership with New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH) in Mission Hill. Staff from the hospital host a monthly meal for our tenants at Pine Street’s Doe house, just down the block from the hospital. Over the summer, staff hosted three barbeque meals, complete with special gift bags for each tenant. This has been a great way for tenants to feel part of the community again. (Continued on page 5)
Staff from New England Baptist Hospital host a monthly meal for housing tenants.
From the
President Boston, and less than a year later, 367 are now housed. Over the past five years, a number of organizations in Boston have worked closely with the city’s agencies that help provide housing for homeless individuals. During that time, we have reduced the number of men and women who are homeless for more than a year (chronically homeless) by almost 50%.
Richard Howard
“Those who raised their hand and swore to protect us should never have to face the stigma, shame and despair that come from being homeless.”
In June, the city of Boston released an action plan to
end veteran and chronic homelessness by coordinating the homeless response system in Boston among a variety of agencies and providers. We are pleased to be part of this thoughtful approach. Two main goals of the plan are to end veteran homelessness in 2015 and to end chronic homelessness by 2018. Those who raised their hand and swore to protect us should never have to face the stigma, shame and despair that come from being homeless. We need to do everything in our power to make homelessness among veterans a thing of the past. I am happy to say that the city of Boston is making good progress. A year ago, there were 414 homeless veterans in
Unfortunately, last year the number of chronically homeless people started to rise. Boston is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, and for people on fixed incomes, making minimum wage, or with debilitating diseases like mental illness and substance abuse, it is impossible to afford market rate rents. I know that we can make additional progress, but only if we commit to a strategy that includes: • A front-door-of-shelter plan that engages with people right away; • A system to help people who need short-term assistance get back on their feet; • Permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities who need housing and support services. Meeting the city’s goals will take vision, resources and tight coordination. I know we can do this, in large part, because you have given us the support and confidence to dream of the day when no veteran in our city is homeless and no one is homeless for years and years. Thank you for your continued support.
(Overcoming Obstacles, continued from page 1) moved into an apartment, exactly two years from when he first became homeless. As a college graduate and accounting professional, Ron never expected to be homeless. But when the recession hit a few years ago, he was laid off from his job at a local television station. He spent many months searching for a new
position with no luck. He held on to his condo as long as his could, but eventually lost his home and wound up with no place to go. “I walked out of my home with what I could carry,” he says. “You realize that ‘home’ becomes a really big word when you don’t have one.” Ron then came to Pine Street, where he participated in several programs and
dedicated himself to doing all he could to get back on his feet. He credits Pine Street’s staff with providing the support he needed. Finally, this past Spring, he moved to a place of his own. “I can’t even really put into words how great it feels to come home at the end of the day, to put my key in that door, to prepare a meal – or just to sit quietly and think,” Ron says. [2]
“We are in the rebuilding business – mostly lives, but buildings, too.” – Lyndia Downie, President & Executive Director
Rebuilding Lives…
Karen had a tough childhood. She dropped out of high
school and left home when she was just 17 years old. Although she struggled, she eventually found a job and an apartment. Karen had difficulty walking and moved into an apartment designated for people with disabilities. Later, she had hip and knee surgery so she was not considered “disabled” any longer. This meant she had to move. With no place else to go, Karen came to Pine Street Inn. When she walked into the shelter lobby, she thought, “There goes my life.” Karen cried every night the first week, lamenting her situation. But soon she started reaching out to other guests and staff and began to believe that she could change her life. Karen’s turn for the better came when she went to see a room in one of Pine Street’s residences in Jamaica Plain – once the Bowditch School, it had been converted to house 50 homeless
… Buildings, too
Pine Street Inn has been expanding our housing through partnerships, purchases and management agreements with affordable housing developers. The upkeep and maintenance of Pine Street’s buildings are essential to providing a safe and secure environment for residents. Over time, Bowditch, as well as Pine Street’s 37 other buildings throughout greater Boston, may need new heating systems, roofs or other major capital Bowditch today investments.
men and women. She saw the room on a Wednesday and moved in that Friday. “I am so blessed to have this,” she says. Karen grew up in Jamaica Plain and felt like she was truly “home” again. In fact, she attended the Karen with her artwork. Bowditch School when she was a child and remembers the school vividly! She loves living in the house and enjoys all it has to offer: painting classes with a local volunteer artist; groups that come in each month to prepare and share meals with tenants; and another group that has worked with tenants to revitalize the garden outside the house. (See story on page 5) According to the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, the Bowditch School “played an important role in the education advancement of Jamaica Plain citizens for over 90 years.” Vacated as a school in 1981, the building remained unused for several years. Pine Street worked with the city of Boston to re-purpose the building to house homeless men and women. The Bowditch School opened as a residence in 1989, housing 50 The former Bowditch School individuals.
For more information on our capital improvement plan, contact Alicia Ianiere, alicia.ianiere@pinestreetinn.org or 617.892.9177. [3]
Provide Help
and Hope
Support Pine Street’s Mission Today & Tomorrow
Holiday Giving
go further. Here are some ways you can help.
think of Pine Street during the busy holiday season!
Match Your Gift:
Ron Giovino and his wife, who work at Konica Minolta and Massachusetts General Hospital respectively, participated in last year’s holiday drive.
You can make your support of homeless men and women We are so grateful to our friends who Your employer may double or even triple the amount of your gift. Check our website to see if your employer offers a Matching Gift Program. www.pinestreetinn.org/mg
Make It Simple & Monthly:
Sign up for the Innkeepers Club to schedule easy monthly gifts to Pine Street year-round. Plus, we’ll send you a Pine Street tote bag as our thanks! www.pinestreetinn.org/monthly
Establish a Lasting Legacy:
Carry forward your legacy of helping your neighbors in need by joining the Paul Sullivan Society with a planned gift made through your estate. www.pinestreetinn.org/pg
“I was overwhelmed by the participation. We raised so much more than we expected and were thrilled to meet the people of Pine Street,” says Giovino. “Thanks to Pine Street for giving us the opportunity to share – we hope to do something again this year.” Tribute gifts, holiday gift drives, sponsoring meals – there are many ways to show your support. We can help you find something that’s right for you! To learn more, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/holidaygiving or call 617.892.9170.
Send Holiday Cards & End Homelessness
Send holiday greetings to friends, family clients and colleagues and
help homeless men and women rebuild their lives. Proceeds from Pine Street’s holiday cards fund programs that help people get back on their feet. Choose from five festive, original designs, generously donated by the artists, along with two inside greeting choices. Cards may be customized with your message or logo for orders over 100. Cards will also be available for sale at several BJ’s Wholesale Club locations. Order online and learn more at pinestreetinn.org/holiday or call 617.892.9189. [4]