Inside Breaktime: A Boston nonprofit's vision to serve unhoused youth
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The third floor of Breaktime's building will become a resource hub for young adults. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
For the first time, Breaktime will be able to offer young adults experiencing homelessness access to showers, therapy, physicals and job training — all under one roof.
Why it matters: Executive director Connor Schoen says one of Breaktime's clients put it best when they said just getting all the resources across the city to help them survive homelessness can be a full-time job.
- Here's what the building will offer:
Floors 3–5: Breaktime's space
- The third floor will be a drop-in space where young adults can shower, wash and dry their clothes and get donated clothes and food. There will also be room for meetings with caseworkers and for them to work on computers.
- The fourth floor will be a job training hub.
- The fifth floor will house Breaktime's staff offices and meeting rooms.
- The nonprofit plans to finish renovations and open these floors by late spring.
Floor 2: The health clinic
Boston Health Care for the Homeless will run a clinic out of the second floor, opening around summer 2026.
- The organization plans to offer services ranging from primary care to therapy, per Schoen.
Floor 1: Potential business tenant
Breaktime is seeking a business tenant to run out of the first floor, once housed by an Eastern Bank branch.
- The business would employ young adults experiencing housing insecurity, Schoen says.
Basement: TBD
The nonprofit is still in early talks with potential partners over the basement, which is finished with bathrooms, showers and a kitchen.