Edgar P. — A Renewed Sense of Purpose

Edgar, a father of two daughters, worked hard as a maintenance engineer to provide for them. For over 20 years, he lived in Hyde Park and raised his family.

In 2023, Edgar began to have significant issues with his knees, and his work environment caused him daily stress. Soon after, Edgar lost his job. “I spent my entire life working,” he says. “Suddenly, I didn’t have a job and felt like I had lost my sense of purpose.”

At the same time, the issues with his knees were getting worse. Edgar ended up in the hospital for an extended period of time when his knee pain became severe. “When I got out of the hospital, a friend that I thought I could trust left the state with all my money. Then, I lost my home because I could no longer afford rent,” Edgar says.

“I had never been homeless before, and I didn’t know what to do,” Edgar says. “Eventually, I ended up on the street. My daughters had their own families, and I did not want to be a burden to them.”

Edgar called Boston City Hall, which led him to a local housing program. There, his case manager suggested he apply for Pine Street’s housekeeping program.

Getting back to work has given Edgar a renewed sense of purpose. “I wake up early every day ready to work,” Edgar says. “I love this program, and I’ve learned so much.”

Now, Edgar is working equally hard on finding permanent housing. “I’m working with a Pine Street housing resource specialist to find a place to call home,” Edgar says. “I’m so happy that I found Pine Street Inn.”