Katarian grew up in a difficult environment, where he faced the challenges of an abusive and toxic family dynamic. With his mother struggling with substance use and his father absent, he found himself navigating life on his own. At 18, he was forced out of his home which led to periods of intermittent homelessness. For several years, he stayed wherever he could, often finding refuge in his older sibling’s car. One morning he woke up unable to feel his feet from the cold. It was then he realized the dangers of his situation – and that he deserved something more.
His brother urged him to seek shelter somewhere, which led Katarian to an overnight shelter in Boston. Staff there immediately recognized his intelligence, and recommended he pursue his GED. After a month of studying, Katarian passed on his first attempt. With renewed confidence in himself, he worked hard to balance his life in the shelter while also maintaining food service jobs and completing an internship with Year Up, a comprehensive job training program.
Katarian’s main reason to succeed: his four children. However, as he began to make progress, his family re-entered his life, sabotaging his success. He lost a valuable internship when he briefly returned home, where his mother’s manipulative behavior caused him to spiral into negative habits. Despite these setbacks, Katarian continued to strive for a better life. While serving a 90-day sentence for selling drugs, he reconnected with his faith and made a promise to do better for himself. Upon his release, he dedicated himself to being a more responsible father, expanding his knowledge, and cultivating more positive lifestyle habits. His dedication and talent led him to secure his first salaried food service position, but the workplace environment was toxic, and he eventually re-entered the shelter system. Determined to rebuild his life after losing his job, Katarian found his way to St. Francis House (SFH).
At SFH, he bonded with Darren, our Recovery Support Center Supervisor, who encouraged him to register for the Moving Ahead Program (MAP), a 14-week job training program that offers housing and weekly stipends to participants. With the support of his instructor, Deb, he secured a general manager position at a successful nearby pizza restaurant called Sal’s. He continues to work there today and has even hired one of his fellow MAP students.
Katarian feels the support he received at SFH helped him transform his life quickly – from having nothing to living comfortably in his very own apartment. He reflects, “Six months ago, I didn’t have anything to my name. I had no money and no job. Now I live in a loft and my life is cushy. I never thought I’d see that happen and I never thought a turnaround was possible in such a short period of time.”
Katarian’s resilience is unmatched and truly inspiring. Focused on the future, he dreams of franchising his own Sal’s Pizza in Dorchester and aspires to eventually enter the IT field. His journey highlights the power of support, perseverance, and self-determination. Despite the challenges Katarian has faced, he remains committed to building a future on his own terms, and we are excited to witness all he continues to achieve.
