“I’m not homeless, I’m Bobby”

Last Sunday was a chilly and blustery one, but our hearts were warmed by hope and connection with our friends on the Ave. Berk, Davy, Eddy, Jeff, Jesus, and Ronnie were joined on the streets by Annalise Quinn of the Boston Globe. Annalise is working on an article about people who are missing on Mass Ave. She has now been to the Ave many times, and her dedication to truly understanding people’s stories continues to inspire us.

It was great to have Eddy back from his semester of school in New Hampshire! His contagious smile spreads hope across the Ave. Lynda couldn't join us today, but she dropped off a big bag of sandwiches that were gone very quickly!

Our volunteers served over 100 people, with the fresh fruit, sweatshirts, and pants being the most appreciated items – especially welcome with the unexpected chill. We made new connections, kept up with old ones, and listened to many stories. I’d like to share two of those stories here.

Early in the day, Davy caught up with one of our friends that we’ve seen the past few weeks – we’ll call him Jay. This week, Jay opened up about his journey of addiction, recovery, and hope. Like many who struggle with substance use disorder, Jay’s first drug dealer was a medical doctor. After an ankle injury at the age of 19, Jay was prescribed opioid painkillers. He took them for a few days and stopped when the pain faded, but a well-meaning family member encouraged him to finish the bottle as prescribed. After that, Jay felt sick with what he later learned was withdrawal. Another prescription deepened the addiction, and when the pills ran out, Jay’s addicted brain led him to heroin.

Jay has been in and out of treatment several times. With the support of his case manager, he’s now close to re-entering detox, and he’s feeling hopeful that this time might bring lasting recovery. We’ve seen how persistence and hope can pave the way to real change—even if it doesn’t happen all at once. We’re rooting for Jay as he takes the next step on his journey!

At the end of the day, the volunteers were packing the carts and boxes back into cars. A man approached them, introducing himself by saying “I’m not homeless, I’m Bobby.” What a powerful statement! When we look beyond labels and see people for who they truly are, we open the door to real empathy—and the kinds of connections that can change lives.