Once a month, the Pine Street Inn transforms from a homeless shelter into a courtroom.

The Homeless Court Program was established in 2010 in partnership with the West Roxbury division of the Boston Municipal Court, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Committee for Public Counsel Services and Pine Street Inn. The court is modeled after one for homeless veterans created in San Diego in 1989.

With the sound of “hear ye, hear ye,” court opened one session earlier this year, as it always does. Attorneys and their clients stood in front of Judge Kathleen Coffey in her long black robe. A  bailiff sat at attention. An American flag was displayed in one corner of the room.

The unusual judicial setting was created specifically for people like James Vivada.

“I’ve been homeless off and on since I was 14. My dad worked a lot. I ended up — due to all the chaos and everything like that — going back home, back to the shelter, back home, stay at somebody else's house,” Vivada, now 25, said.  

Vivada appeared in the homeless court in response to a warrant for malicious destruction of property.

“I’m trying to get to the point where I can get back on my feet," he said. Due to homelessness and not being able to afford housing, he says he had been struggling to overcome drug addiction. 

The court handles misdemeanor offenses, nonviolent felonies and outstanding warrants. Anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless can appear there.

Coffey has been presiding over the court for seven years.

“Initially, our jurisdiction was limited to just cases involving individuals in the city of Boston, but based upon the success of the program, we have been allowed to expand the program,” Coffey said.

Now, Coffey says, anyone who is homeless and dealing with an open case anywhere in the state is eligible to come before her court.

Why do they need a special court?

“Homeless people ... feel alienated and not wanted," she said, "and there’s that whole element of fear and distrust of the system, and also shame in their appearance.”

Coffey has heard more than 250 cases at the Pine Street Inn and dismissed hundreds of low-level felonies, like assault and battery. Those rulings have helped people to clear their records and become eligible for housing.

“It’s a barrier. Default warrants are a barrier for individuals to integrate back into society and to obtain a place to live and to obtain employment and a driver’s license," Coffey said. "There are many government benefits that are not available to individuals who have open default warrants.”

With a clear record, many who have appeared before her have been able to find a place to live. Coffey, who has been a judge for 20 years, calls that a major win in the battle against homelessness.

“Every time I come, I always say there but for the grace of God, there but for the grace of God go all of us," Coffey said. "To see so many people here who get up every day and notwithstanding the obstacles and barriers, they struggle on. That’s why we call Homeless Court the court of second chances.”

On this day, Vivada got a second chance.

“The judge says she was going to dismiss the warrant. She just has to talk to make a few phone calls,” he said.

That represented a huge sign of hope for Vivada on what has been a very long journey.

“I got a second chance, and I’m just going to take it and run with it," Vivada said. "Not everybody everyday gets to walk into a courtroom and walk back out and be able to get back into society.”