“You’ve got to find the joy in you first.”
Ben has always had a voice. As a performer, an ordained clergy member, and a lifelong activist for anti-violence and homelessness relief, he’s used his voice to uplift others—whether on a church stage, a karaoke mic, or in the heart of his Dorchester community.
But a few months ago, that voice was nearly silenced by the weight of a personal crisis.
After a decade in a toxic marriage, Ben went through a rocky divorce. He lost nearly everything—his financial stability, his home, and, most painfully, regular access to his 3-year-old daughter. Navigating the court system while couch-surfing in a friend’s apartment, Ben found himself at a crossroads.
“I needed to find a way to get free food,” he said. “Because if I used the money I had on me, I would’ve been done.” That’s when he walked through the doors of St. Francis House.
At first, it was just for a meal. But then, something shifted. Through encouragement from staff, Ben began connecting with services—employment help, CORI assistance, and behavioral health. On the fourth floor of St. Francis House, he found the support that helped him begin again. With help from our case managers and employment specialists, he has secured a full-time job as a security guard at a music venue in Boston. He sees his daughter every two weeks during supervised visits and is working towards shared custody. And he’s still performing and booking acting gigs through a casting agency, Slate Casting Boston, to help him stay afloat.
Ben’s journey hasn’t been easy—he is a survivor in every sense. Growing up in Dorchester, he was directly impacted by his brother’s involvement in gang life. He’s been arrested. He’s been shot at. Today, Ben is choosing a different path, carving a new future with clarity and hope. “There’s still a lot of work I have to do,” he says. “But I’m grateful that I’m not where I started.”
Looking to the future, he hopes to return to school to study psychology and become a therapist. Already holding a degree in cybersecurity, he plans to return to the tech field while continuing his education.
“I’m really happy I never gave up,” he said. “I kept pushing, even when it felt like I had nothing. Now I have the joy, and I have the job. I can care for myself.” And St. Francis House will continue to support him every step of the way.
