InnsiderNews from Pine Street Inn

The work we do each day at Pine Street Inn relies on the cooperation and support of many individuals and institutions, both internal and external. Every day, we realize how interdependent we are on one another – and the community – to accomplish our mission of ending homelessness.

With our recent merger, this has become even more evident. On April 1, hopeFound, a homeless services organization based in Jamaica Plain, officially merged with Pine Street, combining our strengths and offering Boston’s homeless men and women improved access to permanent housing,

Liz wasn’t always homeless. She had a house, a stable job and a caring family. But slowly, life’s misfortunes started catching up with her. When her mother died, she took care of her sick father until he passed away. Then her son became ill. Finally, her own drug addiction started to take over her life.

“I lost my parents, I lost my kids, I lost my home, and I found myself standing in front of Pine Street,” she recalls.

Liz was homeless for nearly nine years, but with the encouragement of Women’s Inn staff, she started to take steps to turn her life around. Liz was paired with Meghan Minehan, a case manager at the Women’s Inn, who worked closely with her to find permanent housing. (Continued on Page 4)

Working

Together

Ending Homelessness

Pine Street Inn

Spring/Summer 2012

Partners for Success

Liz found housing with the support of her case manager at the Women’s Inn.

(Continued on Page 2)

Find out how our guests, tenants and trainees work with Pine Street staff to gain support and confidence

as they begin to rebuild their lives. Page 3.

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Working Together to President

“Our recent merger with hopeFound has put us in an even better position to move

this strategy forward.”

I am pleased to report that once again, statistics show that homelessness in Boston has decreased – close to 35% over the past six years. How did we get here? It has taken the support and efforts of many, including you, our dedicated supporters. We are especially grateful to our partners in the City of Boston and to Mayor Menino, who has shown great leadership on this issue.

Pine Street has long been thought of as a shelter, but we know it’s not enough to simply supply a bed and a meal for the night. We are now involved in a strategy to create more permanent housing, while reducing reliance on emergency shelter.

While shelter is still needed, the shift towards permanent housing with support services is a critical step forward. Our mission is to support men and women in putting their lives

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job training and placement, addiction treatment, shelter and outreach services.

Whether through the efforts of our outreach team working with our shelter counselors to encourage someone to come in off the streets or housing case managers helping a guest access permanent supportive housing, our focus is always on our guests and their next steps toward housing, employment and independence. We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnerships with you, our friends in the community – we can’t do it without you!

back together so they can regain the best possible quality of life – and ultimately, reconnect with their family and community.

In addition to the City, the Commonwealth and other agencies like the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), have worked closely with us as we focus our efforts on individuals who have been homeless the longest and use the most resources. Our goal is to move them into housing with support services so they don’t have to worry about where they’re going to sleep every night.

Once men and women are housed in a stable environment, we work with them to meet their other needs, like counseling, healthcare and job training. In fact, documented evidence shows an annual savings of $9,500 per person in emergency care and public safety systems with this approach.

Our recent merger with hopeFound, another homeless services organization, has put us in an even better position to move this strategy forward. We know that the investment we are making in a long-term solution pays off in a big way, both from a financial perspective and a societal one. We thank you for supporting us as we work toward ending homelessness.

(Working Together, Continued from Page 1)

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Tee Time!16th Annual Natixis-hopeFound Golf TournamentTuesday, June 5, 2012 | Dedham Country and Polo Club

Thanks to all our supporters who make this event possible, especially Tournament Title Sponsor Natixis Global Asset Management, Leadership Sponsor Public Consulting Group, and Golf Committee Chair Brian Leary.

Proceeds will help us continue to provide permanent housing and support to men and women on their journey out of homelessness.

To purchase raffle tickets for a Florida golf vacation or for more information about the event, visit www.pinestreetinn.org/golf.

From the

Working Together to

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MAKING A NEW HOMEFor more than 700 tenants in Pine Street housing, on-site staff helps them maintain stability and avoid a return to homelessness. Jen, Pine Street Housing Tenant“It’s great to have a place I can call my home, and it’s comforting to know the staff is here. Gloria comes to my door to see if I need anything, and I appreciate that. I’ve talked to her about helping me put together a resume.” Gloria Batista, Case Manager“When the house opened, I made a point to interact with all the tenants to welcome them. When Jen came she was very quiet and shy, but she has really flourished. It’s great to see her moving forward on her own, but I am here to push her when she needs it.”

No one can do it alone. Just as Pine Street relies on partnerships in the community, our guests and tenants find support among the staff they work with every day.

Rebuild Lives

WORKING FOR THE FUTUREIMPACT Employment Services provides specialized employment services, including counseling and job placement, for homeless men and women. Cristina, IMPACT Employment Services Client“When I came to IMPACT, I was homeless, and I didn’t have a job. Now I have my GED and am in college. I’m working, and I pay my rent on time every month. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this if it wasn’t for Todd and IMPACT. Todd’s always there to listen – sometimes that’s just what I need.” Todd Madigan, IMPACT Young Adult Career Specialist“There was a big change in Cristina when she realized she could achieve her life goals. I like to think of her as an alchemist who has transformed her many personal misfortunes into a bright future. She has incredible strength.”

LEARNING NEW SKILLSIn Pine Street’s social enterprise Boston HandyWorks, trainees work with seasoned professionals to learn building maintenance skills and professional skills to help them find and maintain employment. Lester, Boston HandyWorks trainee“I went from a park bench to working with a great group of guys. It’s interesting to learn from a smart person like John. The things he is teaching me are giving me confidence and know-how. Boston HandyWorks has helped me get my life on track.” John Dunkle, Boston HandyWorks trainer and supervisor“Lester is an inspiration. He’s made tremendous changes in his life. It’s clear they are real, lasting changes. Part of that is sharing his knowledge with other people, and he does that.”

Jen and Gloria

John and Lester

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Purposeful GivingRetirement Planning: Jim and Linda Morse Ten years ago, Jim and Linda Morse’s daughter was assigned volunteer work at Pine Street as a part of her school’s curriculum. They didn’t know then how significant the impact would be on their lives.

“Volunteering at Pine Street is what we do together as a family,” Linda says.

As a result of these experiences, the Morses extended their generosity to Pine Street by establishing a gift annuity. While preparing for retirement, Jim said he was attracted to the concept of a gift annuity because of the opportunity it offers to create an additional income stream, while also supporting a cause they care about. Include the tax benefits and flexibility, and a gift annuity is a win-win for their family.

The Morses say they are moved by the belief at Pine Street that if you treat people with respect, they rise to the occasion. We couldn’t agree more.

“We are not wealthy, but we count ourselves fortunate to have supportive

families. Not everyone is so lucky.” - Jim & Linda Morse

Join the Paul Sullivan Society The Paul Sullivan Society recognizes the generosity of donors who have remembered our guests and

tenants in their bequest plans. The group is named in honor of Pine Street Inn’s founder, who believed in the basic dignity of every person and laid the foundation for Pine Street with the belief that everyone deserves a second chance. More than 40 years later, Pine Street continues to operate with those values in mind.

If you have included Pine Street in your will, trust, life insurance policy or another type of planned gift, thank you! Please let us

know, so we may acknowledge your generosity. We are honored to carry forward your legacy of hope for those less fortunate.

For more information on making a planned gift to Pine Street Inn or to join the Paul Sullivan Society, contact Alicia Ianiere at 617.892.9177 or Kristina M. Lentz at 617.892.9182.

“It’s hard to get out of a rut, but Meghan made me do it,” says Liz. “She gave me the energy and support to do it on my own.”

“The process of finding housing can be terrifying and overwhelming,” says Meghan. “Being homeless is hard. It’s a full-time job in itself, so we try to make the process as easy as possible.”

Meghan served as Liz’s guide, helping her navigate through the system and complete applications and paperwork. When her first application was denied, she worked with Liz to push past the setback.

“We anticipated the denial, so we were prepared,” says Meghan. “We talked about how Liz was going to get past this barrier and celebrated all the little successes that got her that far.”

When Liz finally got the good news that she was approved for a Section 8 housing subsidy, Meghan helped her through the transition from Pine Street to her new apartment. Today, Liz feels like her life is falling into order. She’s been clean and sober for three years, in her own apartment for two years, and is hoping to reconnect with her children one day.

“I wouldn’t be here without Pine Street, but I don’t want to go back. My life is perfect now.”

(Partners for Success, Continued from Page 1)

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On May 10, Pine Street Inn held Home Remedy, its annual fundraising breakfast, at the Marriott Copley Place. This year’s theme, Opening the Door to Hope, highlighted progress toward ending homelessness as more men and women have moved out of shelter and into permanent housing.

Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show on WGBH-FM, emceed the event, and Kitty Dukakis, an early advocate for homeless men and women, delivered the keynote address.

Corinne Ferguson, Chair of Pine Street’s Board of Directors, co-chaired the event with MaryEllen Walsh of Fidelity Investments and Chair of the Council for Pine Street Inn.

With nearly 600 in attendance and supported by corporate and individual friends – including leading sponsors Bank of America, Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company, Natixis Global Asset Management, Jerome and Julia Jacobs, Christopher McKown and Abigail Johnson, and Corinne and Tim Ferguson – the breakfast was a great success.

(Top) Callie Crossley, Kitty Dukakis, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Lyndia Downie and Boston Redevelopment Authority Director Peter Meade. (Left) Paul, a Pine Street tenant, says, “Having a permanent residence means so much more than just having a place to eat and sleep and shower. My room and Doe House have become my home.”

Pine Street’s Food Services Training Program (FSTP) prepares nearly 100 people each year for employment in the food services industry. Thanks to longstanding corporate partnerships, we are able to enhance their learning experience through the Visiting Chefs Series.

Each month, executive chefs from Legal Sea Foods and Sodexo come to the Inn to educate trainees through cooking demonstrations that reinforce the culinary theory and coursework they receive in the training program.

Past demonstrations have included how to properly fillet fish, use rubs and seasonings, and how to artfully present a final dish.

“The Visiting Chefs are very generous with their time and talents.

Visiting Chefs Share Expertise with TraineesThe trainees recognize this and are inspired by the Chefs and their stories to do even better,” says Frank Van Overbeeke, Pine Street’s executive chef.

Legal Sea Foods’ Culinary Director Kevin Watson launched the Visiting Chefs Series in 2009, and they later added

hospitality sessions that focus on customer service, job readiness and interviewing. Sodexo began offering Visiting Chef demonstrations last year, and District Manager Stephen Porter also conducts an orientation course on professionalism and safety.

“The trainees are so grateful to the Visiting Chefs,” says Irene Adley, FSTP Instructor. “Our hope is that the program reinforces and improves their confidence as they work toward re-entering a professional environment.”

Legal Sea Foods’ chefs lead a session of the Visiting Chefs Series for food service trainees.

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Friends of the Inn

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Pine Street Inn444 Harrison AvenueBoston, MA 02118General Information: 617.892.9100Donations: 617.892.9170Volunteers: 617.892.9186www.pinestreetinn.org

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Red Sox “Acts of Kindness” come to Pine Street InnPine Street benefited from “100 Acts of Kindness” in March when Red Sox Front Office staff and Fenway Ambassadors came to the Inn for a Chop-a-thon. Thirty Red Sox volunteers helped cut 500 pounds of fresh vegetables for guests’ meals that week and took a tour of the Men’s and Women’s Inns. The Red Sox “100 Acts of Kindness” program supports the work of charitable organizations throughout New England during Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary season. Pine Street was honored to be part of the celebration of this beloved landmark. Go Sox!

We love Volunteers!

Red Sox front office staff chopped 500 pounds of vegetables for “100 Acts of Kindness.” (Photo credit:

Kristyn Ulanday/

Boston Red Sox)

Raffle with Heart The Ninety Nine Restaurants celebrated another successful year of its annual Have a Heart Raffle, raising more than $127,000 ($27,000 more than their $100,000 goal!) for Pine Street Inn and our efforts to end homelessness. Raffle tickets for Red Sox Green Monster seats were sold at 51 restaurant locations throughout Massachusetts. Congratulations to General Manager Lynn Marcel and the Ninety Nine Restaurants staff in Pembroke, who were recognized for selling the most raffle tickets.

Many thanks to the Ninety Nines for their generous support and steadfast commitment to our guests and tenants for more than 30 years.

Running 26.2 Miles to End Homelessness

Pine Street was lucky to once again be selected as an official charity of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program. Thanks to John Hancock and two other donors, Pine Street fielded a team of eight committed runners who participated in the 116th Boston Marathon and raised more than $40,000 for the Inn.

Congratulations to John Collura, James Dessin, Tim Ferguson, Dave Harris, Nicole Malo, Dan Mercurio, Michelle O’Brien and Mike Shreve for running

26.2 miles (no easy feat on such a hot day!), and for their tremendous fundraising efforts on behalf of Pine Street.

Nicole Malo celebrates at the Pine Street stop on Beacon Street.

Members of Fountain of Grace Church with Scottie Wait, Director of Volunteer Programs.

More than 40,000 hours of volunteer service each year help to keep Pine Street running. To thank those who help meet this need, Pine Street held a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday, March 31.

More than 300 volunteers – many of whom provide service on a weekly or monthly basis – attended the breakfast and heard remarks by Lyndia Downie, Pine Street’s president; Msgr. Francis H. Kelley, a founding board member; and Paul, a tenant at Pine Street’s Doe House in Mission Hill.