Spotlight: Eric Hunt
Spotlight: Eric Hunt
When Eric Hunt talks about growing up in Newark, N.J., he says it was a life full of getting into trouble. Those troubles eventually led to prison time, followed by parole in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he lived for a few years before moving to Pittsfield more than 20 years ago.
But Eric doesn’t dwell on the past. He’d rather talk about what he’s doing now, after his release in 2019 from another prison stint. This time, he was paroled in Springfield and eventually landed at Alternative Living Centers (ALC), a sober-living halfway house in Pittsfield. There, he was connected with Second Street Second Chances. He didn’t know it yet, but his life was about to change in a big way.
“Second Street helped me get back on my feet. They helped me get a driver’s license and other things back in order,” says Eric, who had managerial experience and had already begun a journey to get a job. Today, he is a supervisor at Hillcrest Commons, a nursing home in Pittsfield. And, he’s involved in the mentorship program at 2nd Street, which he finds to be a natural fit with his skill set.
“Working at Hillcrest, I need people skills, so I’m able to use those skills to help others get jobs and acclimate back into society,” Eric says. He helps clients find legal assistance and assists with their basic needs, like taking them shopping and on other errands. Most of all, he connects with them.
“I talk to them all the time. I have to earn their trust,” Eric says. “It’s not easy. They need a lot. People struggle with homelessness, substance abuse … it’s tough. But I try to get them back on track.”
He knows what it’s like to get off track, but he also knows what it’s like to make changes and lead a productive life.
“People see me succeeding, and they want to succeed. I’m living a constructive life, basically a 180 from where I was before,” Eric says. “I’m 60 years old now. It was time to move forward.”
Mentoring is both rewarding and frustrating at times, he says. Sometimes, clients aren’t always willing to make changes, or they lose focus. Sometimes, they fail. But Eric keeps going.
“They have to be willing to do it on their own, but I can show them how,” he says. “My consistency is showing up and being there for them. Eventually, they will do the right thing.”
The most important thing, he says, is to keep busy.
“You have to get connected and find something to do. Don’t have idle time, or it will lead you right back to where you came from,” he advises. “And set goals. All of these things will happen. Maybe not right away, but they will happen.”
For Eric, being a mentor at 2nd Street is like paying it forward. With their help, he was able to make valuable connections in the community, save money, and move forward with his life. Now, he helps others do the same.
“Second Street is a place that helps people get their life back on track so you can reacclimate. They figure out each person’s needs, and they get you the assistance you need to get back on track,” he says. “We’ll give you rides, get you involved in programs, and get you to work.”
Eric praises 2nd Street for its positive impact on the community and for forging great connections, like the relationship with ALC, which directly helped him get to where he is today. His work in the mentorship program has not only helped his clients, but it has also caught the attention of 2nd Street staff. He was recently asked to be a board member, which he readily accepted. His term begins in January 2026.
Eric fills his days with his full-time job and with his hours at 2nd Street. He spends his spare time with his dog, Onyx, playing golf, and going to visit family members in New Jersey, including his elderly father. And, while things at 2nd Street have progressed quickly for him, he’s ready to keep challenging himself.
“There’s always more to do,” he says. “I don’t limit myself.”
