John’s journey to St. Francis House began long before he ever walked through our doors. Originally from Haiti, he grew up in a large family and set his sights on new possibilities. At 20 years old, he moved to New York City — full of ambition, curiosity, and the promise of a fresh start. He imagined building a future there, and for a while, he did. But life has a way of shifting course.
Throughout this time, John’s mother encouraged him and his siblings to consider Boston, believing they might find greater stability and opportunity. After several visits, John made the move, settling in Boston around 1995. He spent the next two years laying down roots and building a new foundation for himself. But gradually, he slipped into substance use. “Things became bad for me,” he says. “My mother didn’t want me to live with her any longer.”
Eventually, John found himself without a place to stay, unsure of where to turn. That’s when someone told him about St. Francis House. He remembers that moment clearly. “I had no choice but to come in for services,” he says. What began as refuge became a lifeline, and eventually, a community.
John first came to St. Francis House for the basics: meals, clothing, and support to get through the day. Working with a case manager and connecting with the Recovery Support Center helped him begin to rebuild. As life took him in and out of Boston, one thing stayed constant: each time he returned, he came back to St. Francis House. “This place is my heart,” he says. In time, John realized he wasn’t returning just to receive help — he was coming because he had something to offer.
Today, John is a peer leader and activity coordinator in our Recovery Center, roles he steps into with humility, joy, and purpose. He leads a weekly 12-step group, listens deeply to their struggles, and plans regular outings so no one feels alone when the shelter is closed. “My favorite thing is to be of assistance,” he says. “To help people as much as I can.” The storm that once clouded John’s life — his substance use — is one he now sees clearly in the rearview mirror. “I’m proud of being clean and sober. Proud that people can trust me again.”
With the help of SFH’s housing department, John has secured an apartment in Dorchester and cultivated a community that believes in him. He speaks with deep gratitude about staff members who have walked beside him. “People really care here,” he says. “They genuinely care about people’s lives.” At 57, John is dreaming forward again. This January, he plans to return to school at UMass Boston to finish his degree in counseling.
He has lived in many places — New York, Houston, Georgia, Florida, Ohio — but he always returns to the same conclusion: Boston is home. And at the center of that home is St. Francis House, a place that held him through a storm, and a place where he now stands ready to guide others through theirs.
