Anthony’s Story of Trust and Hope

Anthony is a man who values honesty and connection. After spending more than 26 years living on the streets and in different institutions, Anthony developed a deep understanding of what it means to survive in a system where trust is hard to find.

Anthony’s path to homelessness wasn’t caused by just one thing. It was a combination of family struggles and addiction. For Anthony, his own history was the biggest barrier to moving forward: “People look at your condition as being who you are instead of being a condition of how you live,” he explains.

Before meeting with Hearth, Anthony felt hopeless. Years of empty promises in the shelter and jail systems had left him unwilling to trust people offering help. However, the advocates at Hearth offered something different: a relationship built on compassion rather than judgment. “They accepted me for where I was at, not for being who I was,” Anthony says.

The support from Hearth went far beyond just finding an apartment. His case manager, Veronica, helped him get his ID, birth certificate, and social security card so he could have a steady income. Any time his medical team couldn’t reach him, Veronica would visit Anthony to ensure he made his appointments.

Hearth supports our residents and clients long after the initial meeting—we make a commitment to stability for as long as we are needed.

“When I walked into my home for the first time, instantly I felt overwhelmed,” Anthony recalls, sharing how Hearth helped rebuild not only his trust in people supporting him but himself as well. For him, the most precious gift was the return of his privacy. After years of being surrounded by crowds in shelters, he finally had a space that was personal and safe.

Today, Anthony lives a comfortable life in Rockland, MA, in one of Hearth’s partnered properties. He remains a vocal advocate for the compassion that saved him, noting that many older adults in the city have been stuck in the system for a decade or more.

Hearth’s mission is to provide and advocate for permanent, affordable, and supportive housing for older adults who have experienced homelessness. Anthony’s journey is a reminder that no matter a person’s history, there’s always the possibility for change when they’re met with dignity and a helping hand. As Anthony says, “Just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean you don’t deserve something good, something nice to happen in your life”.