Winter 2017
Innsider News from Pine Street Inn
Connecting with Those on the Street:
Building Trust
It is 10:00 p.m. on a cold Thursday night in December, and much of the
Rick Friedman
city is tucked away for the night, safe and warm. Pine Street’s Outreach team, however, is just about an hour into their nightly shift canvassing the streets of downtown Boston, on the lookout for homeless men and women.
Our Outreach teams work one-on-one with homeless individuals and meet them “where they are.”
Two Outreach vans are stocked with warm blankets, hot chocolate, sandwiches and new hats, gloves and personal care items. One team has already encountered nine individuals, all known to them – many huddled in doorways. To some, these men and women may seem invisible, but to the Outreach team, each person has a story.
Nelson, a 16-year Outreach team veteran, remarks, “Each story begins with rapport-building. Some people are resistant, but seeing the same face every night builds trust. We visited Diane for many, many nights – she finally opened up and started taking the steps.” Diane, who lived on the streets for over 10 years, was recently housed. (Continued on page 4)
The Outreach Van:
A Snapshot
The following timeline gives a brief overview of several
hours in the life of Pine Street’s overnight Outreach team.
9:00 p.m. Two vans are loaded with sandwiches, soup, hot chocolate, water, oranges, blankets, hats, gloves, sweatshirts and personal care items. The teams meet to finalize routes. 9:15 p.m. The first stop is a busy street in downtown Boston. Behind a row of planters, a young man and woman are huddled with an old man. The group is interested in hot chocolate and blankets. The young woman has been seen by the team at a number of different locations over the (Continued on page 2)
Two Outreach vans canvass the streets every night from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
From the
President
longer term goal of moving men and women off the street, out of shelter and into housing, helping them rebuild their lives and connect back with a caring community.
Richard Howard
We continue to work closely with the City of Boston and other partner agencies, to ensure the safety and well-being of every vulnerable man and woman, whether on the street, in shelter or in our housing.
We at Pine Street Inn must prepare for
the worst the winter has to offer, and we worry most about the vulnerable men and women on the streets. Yet, even in extreme weather, there are still those who choose to remain outside. As you will read in this newsletter, our heroic Outreach teams are on the streets, day and night – literally saving lives. At the same time, we must remain focused on the (The Outreach Van: A Snapshot, Page 1)
past year; they are especially concerned because she is only 26 years old. 9:35 p.m. A call comes in to the Outreach phone from someone in a park area near a T station, requesting the van to check on an individual who appears in distress. 9:45 p.m. The van arrives at the T station. An older man is asleep on the ground outside a shop that is still open. He says he is ok. Tonight he only wants an extra blanket, and does not want to come in. 10:05 p.m. The van passes a 7-Eleven, and staff recognize a man standing outside the door. The driver stops to check in – the man says he doesn’t need anything tonight. According to the notes from the daytime Outreach team, he was handed keys to a new apartment earlier in the day. The transition to housing can be difficult for those who have been out on the streets, sometimes for many years.
“As you will read in this newsletter, our heroic Outreach teams are on the streets, day and night – literally saving lives.” Along with our partners, we have made great strides over the last year in housing homeless veterans, and are now seeing success in our work to house chronically homeless elders. As we move into 2017, I wish you and your family peace, health and happiness, along with my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of our work. My hope for this year, as every year, is to end homelessness for as many men and women as possible. Together, I am confident we will continue to make significant progress. 10:20 p.m. The driver stops to chat with a woman in a doorway near Downtown Crossing. She is in her 40s and has been on the street for a year. She won’t come in yet, but asks for two blankets. 10:40 p.m. The van reunites with a team on foot who is checking on several people sleeping in doorways in a busy shopping area. The team knows their names: Debbie, David, Robert, Jeanette. Jeanette accepts food, happy to see the team. 10:50 p.m. An elderly gentleman on crutches is waiting patiently by the curb at South Station. He regularly gets picked up at the station by the Outreach team and brought back to the Men’s Inn. 11:00 p.m. The van heads to Pine Street to drop off the guest at the Men’s Inn. The staff then get back into the van and head out for the rest of the night. The daytime Outreach team will then pick up where the overnight team leaves off, starting at 6:00 a.m.
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Many Roads Home Each individual has his or her own set of circumstances and unique journey. At Pine Street,
our staff works with each man and woman, helping them find their own road home. It takes patience, persistence, commitment and hard work, both on the part of staff and guests, to find their way home.
monica
OUTREACH
Monica grew up without a mother; when her father died, her life spiraled downward into a cycle of substance abuse, and she “lived” in a doorway downtown for five years. “I felt like I was a hopeless case. But Pine Street’s Outreach staff never gave up on me. They came back day after day, and they helped me find a real place to live. Now I can think about what I want to do with my life – should I go to school or get a job? I can look forward to the rest of my life!”
tyshaun
SHELTER
Tyshaun had always been a bright and curious person who had high hopes for himself. His parents were alcoholics and he started drinking at a young age. By the time he was 15, he was in prison. “Because of my drinking, I ended up homeless and in a shelter. I acted like I felt on the inside – nothing. Counselors at Pine Street helped me build my confidence and focus on the future. Now I have a place to live and I work at a shelter as a way to give back. Having a home is fundamental to moving forward without the stress of ‘where am I going to sleep or eat my next meal?’”
ROBERTA
JOB TRAINING
Roberta had always worked to provide for her two children. Then she began experiencing major medical and mental health problems, and lost her home and her children. “When I first became homeless, I thought I would never move on. Staff at Pine Street encouraged me to join the iCater food service training program, where I began to believe in myself again. All of the other trainees and staff became like a family to me. I graduated from the program and now I have a job, a place to live, and I’m working on getting my children back. I don’t know where I’d be without Pine Street.” [3]
SAVE THE DATE!
A Breakfast to Benefit Pine Street Inn
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 Marriott Boston Copley Place With keynote speaker
Paul English
CO-FOUNDER OF LOLA AND KAYAK, PHILANTHROPIST.
For information on sponsorships and tickets, contact: Jessica Mattioli at 617.892.9178.
www.pinestreetinn.org/homeremedy
Monthly Giving:
JOIN THE
Innkeepers Club
As part of the Innkeepers Club, your monthly support provides critical funds that Pine Street can count on throughout the year – helping to bring us that much closer to finding a home and community for everyone. Benefits include: • Consistent help for men and women in need. Whether during the cold of winter or the heat of summer, your membership provides year-round support. • Convenience. Gifts are automatically transferred and will appear each month on your credit card or checking account statement. • Our gratitude. Join the Innkeepers Club and receive a special Pine Street canvas tote bag. • Periodic updates. Receive news via mail and/or email. • Special events and volunteer opportunities. Join the Innkeepers for special service events throughout the year. • Flexibility. Call 617.892.9183 or email: Innkeepers@pinestreetinn.org to amend your gift at any time.
Join today!
www.pinestreetinn.org/monthly
Support Pine Street’s Mission
Today & Tomorrow
A gift through your will or estate is the easiest way to ensure the work of Pine Street continues as long as it is needed. “Pine Street Inn is going to live long past when I’m gone, and I believe it will be doing the same quality work with the same commitment to the values I uphold for a long time.” — Karen Schwartzman, Supporter and Board Member
A bequest may be right for you if: • You would like to make a gift to Pine Street. • You want the flexibility to change your mind. • You want continued access to your gift assets, should you need them. • A tax deduction for your gift is not important to you in the short-term. Remembering Pine Street Inn in your will (also referred to as bequest) is a wonderful way for you to make a lasting gift. Large or small, your gift will make an important contribution to our ability to carry out our mission to end homelessness.
giftplanning.pinestreetinn.org For more information on Planned Giving, contact: Kristina Lentz, kristina.lentz@pinestreetinn.org, 617.892.9182.
Make Your Donation
Go Twice as Far
Did you know that your employer may double – or even triple – the amount of your gift? Check our website to see if your employers offers a Matching Gift Program.
www.pinestreetinn.org/mg
(Building Trust, Page 1)
Outreach teams are out by van at night and on foot during the day, working hand-in-hand in a coordinated, 24-hour effort to address the needs of men and women staying on the streets. Staff meet homeless men and women “where they are,” listen to them, and use specialized interviewing techniques. This gives individuals a connection to a friendly face in an otherwise lonely world, out on the streets of a big, busy city.
It is now 10:20 p.m., and the van pulls up to a busy T station. Julie, a woman in her 40s, is bundled up and leaning against a wall next to the station entrance. She is very guarded. “We’ve had women on the team start to approach Julie and it seems to be working,” says Nelson. “We crack the door open a little bit…a little bit…a little bit more. Hopefully, we will come to a place where we can get Julie to come inside.” Tonight she only wanted a blanket…it’s a start. [4]
A Place To
Call Home
On a beautiful fall day, tenants, community
residents, officials and other guests gathered on Beals Street in Brookline to celebrate the reopening of a renovated Pine Street residence for 30 men and women. Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III spoke of its significance: “Through these units, Pine Street has created a societal shift in how we approach homelessness. By removing the uncertainty of not having a roof over your head, the most vulnerable among us will reorient themselves on a pathway to a greater tomorrow.” Joe J., one of the tenants at Beals Street, spoke of his appreciation of his new home. “This house and the staff are wonderful. We have formed a sense of community where we look out for each other. Everything I need is right here.” As with Pine Street’s 40 properties throughout Greater Boston, Beals Street is staffed with case managers who
help tenants connect with support and community services including healthcare, counseling, job training and volunteer opportunities.
Beals Street tenant Joe J. and Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III spoke to assembled guests.
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and other organizations funded the project. Brookline’s Board of Selectmen showed their support as well. “We would not be standing here today were it not for the unparalleled leadership shown by Town of Brookline officials and their steadfast commitment to affordable housing opportunities,” said Pine Street President Lyndia Downie.
Help for the Holidays The annual outpouring of generosity and support during the holidays helps brighten the season for our guests and tenants. We thank all our donors and volunteers for their support.
Rick Friedman
Rick Friedman
The Winter Walk
President Lyndia Downie, Police Commissioner William B. Evans, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and Mayor Martin J. Walsh carved Thanksgiving turkeys for our guests.
Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley visited with guests and served the Christmas Eve luncheon.
Pine Street’s Innbassadors, organizers of the “Warm Up the Holidays” gift drive, wrapped over 1,400 holiday gifts with the help of 100+ volunteers.
The Winter Walk is a new initiative to raise funds and awareness to help end homelessness in Boston. On Sunday, February 12, 2017, participants will gather in Copley Square and walk two miles together, then share a community breakfast. Pine Street Inn is one of five beneficiaries of this initiative. For more information or to register, visit: www.winterwalkboston.org
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Community Friends Mass. Bar Association
Food Drive
Staff donated and assembled holiday food kits for tenants.
During the Thanksgiving season, Mass. Bar Association held a “Giving Back to the Community” event, where staff were invited to contribute non-perishable items for tenants living in Pine Street housing.
Because of their efforts, over 65 tenants received a food kit containing all the sides needed for a holiday meal. Thank you, Mass. Bar Association!
Turkey Truck Delivers
Ten years ago, two friends of Pine Street Inn started the “Turkey Truck” to raise funds for the purchase of turkey served during the holidays in Pine Street’s shelters.
Volunteers unloaded 12,000+ pounds of protein from the Turkey Truck.
Through this generosity and the power of bulk purchasing, the Turkey Truck now provides our guests and tenants with nutritious protein for meals throughout the winter months each year. This year’s Turkey Truck has already provided protein for 32,214 meals in Pine Street’s shelters and residences, with more on the way! To find out more about supporting our food program, visit:
www.pinestreetinn.org/donatefood
S2N Health
Shows Support The team from S2N Health joined the mission to end homelessness with an innovative sponsorship. Using Pine Street’s new online fundraising tool, S2N staff and clients contributed toward a team goal of sponsoring a week of meals at Pine Street Inn. The S2N team also came in to serve dinner during their sponsorship week. We are so thankful for their support! If your group or company would like to support Pine Street, please check out our new fundraising platform:
www.pinestreetinn.org/fundraise
BC PULSE and Pine Street:
40th Anniversary! Since 1976, Pine Street Inn has had a unique partnership with the Boston College PULSE Program. The mission of the PULSE Program is to educate BC students about social injustice by putting them into direct contact with marginalized populations and social change organizations. Each year, 8-10 students spend 10 hours per week working directly with Pine Street guests and in support of staff. Meghan T. Sweeney, PhD, from PULSE says, “We are deeply grateful for this ongoing partnership. We especially appreciate the care and concern that the Pine Street staff who work with our PULSE students demonstrate in their commitment to the public good, social justice and serving those in need.” Happy Anniversary, BC PULSE! Pine Street Inn Innsider 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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