Fall 2019
Innsider
Pathways Out of
News from Pine Street Inn
Homelessness
People often associate the term “triage” with an
emergency room, where medical professionals quickly assess the needs of patients to determine next steps of care. Pine Street’s “Front-Door Triage” program was modeled after this approach. The idea is to engage intensively with new shelter guests as soon as they arrive at our door, quickly calibrating the right level of support needed and expediting their return to housing and stability.
LeSans (right) works with a new guest to seek alternatives to shelter.
For some, an immediate solution is possible through family reunification, individual counseling and/or assistance with transportation home, where someone awaits their return. For others, the path out of homelessness is more complex, requiring coordination with medical, mental health and/or substance use treatment systems. (Continued on page 2)
A Voice from the Early Days: Mary Johnson Throughout our 50th anniversary, we are sharing
stories from those who were here at the beginning. The following excerpt was adapted from an interview with Mary Johnson, a staff member who has worked at Pine Street since 1980. I was going to school at Boston State College to train as a surgical nurse. I started working at Pine Street a couple of nights a week in the Women’s Inn. At the time, the women’s shelter was new to Pine Street – a place for homeless women was not really a
focus back then, but was needed. We saw a lot of domestic violence survivors who would come here. With deinstitutionalization, a lot of people who needed help came to us because they had nowhere else to go. We learned about crisis intervention – that we had to be more intentional and focused in how we were dealing with people who had many different problems. About 10 years ago, I started working with veterans here. A lot of them did not identify as a veteran because
Mary (right) and a guest at the Women’s Inn in the 1980s.
of substance use or mental illness – they were embarrassed. I thought it was going to be an easy transition because I had been working with the homeless population for over 25 years. But it wasn’t. Veteran PTSD is very overwhelming.
(Continued on page 2)
From the
President
Fifty years ago, our founders realized there was a need for a safe place for those who had no place to go. Homelessness was a growing problem in Boston, and a group of activist priests, known as the Boston Urban Priests, decided something had to be done. Although they had no experience with this issue, they took it on anyway. That was the beginning of Pine Street Inn, founded in an old building on Pine Street in Chinatown. Two hundred men suffering from alcoholism were provided with “a hot and a cot” – a meal and a place to sleep – for the night. The next morning they were back out on the street, with no long-term plan. Over the years, the thinking around homelessness and how to solve it has evolved. Today we know that moving men and women off the streets, out of shelter, and into a home with staff to support them in reconnecting with the community, works. We have seen this over and over.
Now we are putting our focus on preventing homelessness in the first place. In our page 1 story on our Front-Door Triage program, we literally meet individuals as they show up at our door for the first time, and assess them to determine if we can quickly reconnect them with a family member or friend. The goal is to prevent someone from spending even one night in shelter, and this program has shown great promise. “Now we are putting our focus on preventing homelessness in the first place.” Many factors can contribute to homelessness: loss of a job, mental illness, addiction, trauma. While we cannot prevent all of these causes, our increased focus on prevention and making shelter stays as brief as possible is having an impact. With your generous support, we will continue to make progress on this critical issue. On behalf of everyone at Pine Street Inn, please accept my deepest gratitude for all you do. With gratitude,
(Pathways Out of Homelessness, continued from page 1)
“This innovative program is transforming the way we address homelessness,” said Angela Giordano, who directs the Front-Door Triage program. “When a guest walks in the door, we work to get them on a pathway out of homelessness as quickly as possible. We believe shelter should be temporary, and our goal is to prevent chronic homelessness before it sets in.” Michael’s story illustrates how the program works: He arrived at our Men’s Inn in an agitated state because he had stopped taking his medication. The Triage staff immediately intervened and helped him obtain medication. The next day, when he was more stable, staff learned that Michael was close with
his sister and had his own apartment. A Triage team member reached his sister while she was filing a missing person report at the local police station. She was very relieved to learn her brother was safe and agreed to help him seek more intensive psychiatric treatment. In the past year, Front-Door Triage served 2,861 new shelter guests. Among them, 21% were able to return to housing within 30 days, often through family reunification. Many were able to avoid spending even a single night in shelter. Thanks to the partnerships with government funders and private donors, the program continues to grow and thrive.
Pine Street Inn was thrilled to recently receive a Cummings Foundation $100k for 100 grant to help expand Front-Door Triage. We deeply appreciate this partnership!
(A Voice from the Early Days: Mary Johnson, continued from page 1)
It’s hard to get veterans to talk about what’s going on in their life. We had to make sure that they were getting the services and benefits they were entitled to and eliminate any barrier keeping them out of housing. We’ve had Vietnam vets, Iraqi vets. We’ve had every veteran possible here. We have vets who have physical injuries, missing limbs and are in wheelchairs. One of my brothers was a Vietnam vet and was affected by his experience. I just remembered the support of my family and how he got through it, and I use that in my approach in my work. [2]
Speaking from their Hearts Everyone has a story. For the men and women who stay at our shelter, live in our housing, or take part in our job training programs, Pine Street becomes part of their story.
“ I am also proud to report that I have a new job at Boston Harbor Cruises. I feel so great now. I feel empowered and independent. I am a productive member of society, I’m contributing to positive things. I am proof that if you keep pushing and stay positive, great things can happen.” – Lisa, iCater trainee and speaker at our 2019 Workforce Development Graduation in June
“ This program was amazing! I wish I could do it again, I learned so much. Amazing staff, you guys met my needs, I’m so appreciative of everything!” – Nilton, iCater graduate
“ I’ve been on and off the streets since age 16. I worked in car sales for a little while and then was on disability. Pine Street helped me get sober and then I joined the iCater job training program. This place has done so much for me.” – Wayne, iCater graduate
“ Over the last couple years, I’ve struggled with depression. But even with my struggles, I felt confident knowing there were Pine Street staff I could talk to. Now, I do a lot of volunteer work. It feels good to be busy. Eventually I want to go back to work and move into my own place.” – Charlie, tenant and speaker at our 2019 Home Remedy Breakfast
“ I stayed at Pine Street’s shelter for four months. When I told staff I was a veteran, I was moved to the veterans’ house. I’ve been there for nine months and I’m getting my confidence back. I try to accomplish one positive thing every day. With my own room and my own key, my life has changed.” – Anthony, tenant
To read more of these inspiring stories, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/stories-of-hope. [3]
Why I Give: Innkeeper Jessica Coughlin We recently spoke with Jessica, who gives monthly as part of our Innkeepers Club, about why she supports Pine Street Inn. How did you get involved with Pine Street? I was catering a friend’s party at the holidays, and when she insisted on paying me, I decided to give that money to charity. Pine Street immediately came to mind because of my father. My dad was a great man, and loved Boston. He worked for the city in a variety of ways and in the late 1990s, he was hired by Pine Street as a consultant in support of its government relations work. He was so moved by the mission. At the time, he was a high functioning alcoholic and he passed away when I was 15. When I think about him and his connection to this work, I knew he easily could have been one of these guys who needed help from Pine Street.
Why do you support Pine Street? What could be a more worthy cause than helping someone who is so in need of the basic things that keep us alive? I give to Pine Street because this organization goes beyond just covering someone’s immediate emergency needs – I’m so impressed by the work done to provide job training and get people into permanent housing! When you’re out in the city and you see a lot of people on the street, maybe you don’t think about where they go at night or their path. But when I’m out, and I see people who need help, I know I’m giving in a way that’s intentional and gives them a chance at a future.
Jessica as a child with her father.
Why do you give monthly, as opposed to a one-time gift every year? These are reliable, steady gifts that Pine Street can count on, so to be able to offer a sense of stability by making my gift every month – I’m happy with that. I think it’s also a matter of perspective. When you start thinking about Netflix, Amazon, coffee – this is the least you can do to add one more monthly bill for a cause that is bigger than entertainment!
To learn more about joining the Innkeepers Club, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/innkeepers or contact Lisa Feeley, lisa.feeley@pinestreetinn.org or 617.892.9199.
Pine Street Holidays by the Numbers At Pine Street, we are grateful for the support we receive from our community, especially around the holidays. This time of year can be difficult for men and women experiencing homelessness, but thanks to generous donors like you, we are able to offer some comfort to our guests. Here is a snapshot of your impact between Thanksgiving and Christmas: 1,000 gifts wrapped 100% of shelter guests receive a gift $
350 gift cards donated for our tenants
We are grateful for more than 1,500 volunteer hours during the holidays.
200 donors to the “Turkey Truck,” which provides funding for 100% of protein for the year
To learn about how you can give back around the holidays, please contact Agnes Kim, agnes.kim@pinestreetinn.org or call 617.892.9190.
Planned Giving Planned gifts have a significant and lasting impact on Pine Street’s work. You can ensure a consistent, longterm source of support by including a bequest or other charitable gift in your estate plans. Please consider including Pine Street in your planning for the future. To learn more about our planned giving program, contact Alicia Ianiere at alicia.ianiere@pinestreetinn.org or 617.892.9177. [4]
Moving into Hamilton Street! Over the last several months, Pine Street’s new residence on Hamilton Street in Dorchester has been abuzz with activity, as staff and volunteers put the finishing touches on this new home. The building provides a safe and stable home where 52 tenants are rebuilding lives of dignity and independence. Hamilton Street is for men and women who are 50+ years old, and is fully accessible. Staff provide support to the tenants and they form a new community.
Justine, a resident at Hamilton Street, enjoys her new home.
Individual and corporate group volunteers helped move in furniture and everything needed to make this house a home. No detail was too small – clocks were set, beds were made and cabinets were stacked with dishes. Tenants who have moved in have been delighted with their fresh, bright units and comfortable common spaces.
As Justine, a new tenant said, “This place is great! I have everything I need right here, and I’m getting to know the other tenants.”
Hamilton Street during its final phase of construction.
We are grateful to the corporate, foundation and individual donors and volunteers, and the Greater Bowdoin Geneva Neighborhood Association, whose support has been instrumental in making this house a reality. We will be hosting an event to celebrate the official opening of Hamilton Street this fall. Stay tuned for details!
Financial Literacy Training
Helps Rebuild Lives
Several years ago, Pine Street Inn piloted a program to teach basic financial literacy to job seekers experiencing homelessness, as they made their way toward self-sufficiency. It began with a single volunteer and one 20-minute workshop during a job training orientation. Today, that 20-minute workshop has grown into Make Your Change Count™, a program led by four volunteers that offers a series of 90-minute classes on professionalism, credit, budgeting, banking and goal-setting.
k
Make Your Change Count™ continues to evolve. Former students teach current students. Lesson summaries and additional resources are sent to trainees after class. Interactive exercises illustrate important points, and volunteers offer one-on-one coaching for anyone who requests it. Volunteers Mario Alosco, Danny Hannafin, Ellen Pedro and Howard Perlstein (founder), lead this successful program. As one trainee said: “Now I better understand the power we have to make positive, impactful decisions.” For more information or to volunteer, email MakeYourChangeCount@gmail.com.
Shadawn, a trainee who completed the Make Your Change Count™ program, has subsequently taught the class.
[5]
Community Friends Deloitte Makes a Major Impact
On their annual Impact Day, teams from Deloitte spread out across multiple Pine Street locations to help with planting gardens, chopping vegetables in the kitchen, exterior painting needs, and organizing rooms for new tenants who are about to move in. We are so grateful!
Love Your Block On May 4th, a dozen guests from our emergency shelters teamed up with Pine Street staff and the East Berkeley Neighborhood Association for Love Your Block Day, a city initiative to help beautify its neighborhoods. Together they raked leaves, cleared out weeds, picked up trash, and helped to clean up Peters Park. We were grateful to be joined by Councilor Ed Flynn and Mayor Martin J. Walsh!
Breckinridge Barbecues Teams from Deloitte supported us all across the city on Impact Day!
Our incredible partners from Breckinridge Capital Advisors hosted a series of summer barbecues at Hartford Street house, one of our homes for veterans. The team also helped plant some flowers and was able to catch up with tenants who have appreciated their barbecues over the years. Thank you for a great summer!
Blue Cross Blue Shield Breakfast and Board Games Over the past few months, teams from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Massachusetts helped in a variety of ways, including chopping nearly 1,500 pounds of produce and bringing board games and breakfast to our Women’s Inn. One volunteer was even able to sign with a deaf guest so she could participate during Game Day – thank you for making this a memorable event!
Tenants and the team from Breckinridge were all smiles after the first annual BBQ!
Innsider Published three times a year by the Development and External Affairs Department The team from BCBS brought games and breakfast as one of their service dates!
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
[6]