Mr. Kenneth Koonce does not have enough good things to say about Miriam’s Kitchen. As someone who knows that people experiencing homelessness come from many different backgrounds and walks of life, he is thankful for people and programs who understand this and “help us get back to normal.”

His story is one of a “before” and “after.” Where he was in life and where he is now. He describes the “before” as the depression, addiction, and trauma that led to him experiencing homelessness. The after? That’s where he is now, and he says that Miriam’s Kitchen has been there to aid and support him every step of the way.

His journey to housing started in 2017 when, after multiple experiences in hospitals and institutions, he was in a rehab program to deal with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and alcoholism. After being referred to Miriam’s Kitchen and working with case managers, Mr. Koonce was able to obtain housing in October 2017 and has been able to maintain stable housing since then.

He stressed the journey of wellness back into his life – mind, body, and soul, he says – and how important that is to him. He says that Miriam’s Kitchen has always been there for meals and special support, but he is so grateful for the people who have been there to provide support at every step of his journey, both to find housing and to help provide stability through the pandemic. Kierstin Quinsland (MK’s former Director of Housing) and Case Manager Kayleigh Sullivan are both people he credits with being “a part of it all.”

If there is one thing Mr. Koonce wants people to take from his story, it’s that “people that come from a ‘good’ background can have medical conditions and mental health that make you wind up on the street, and these programs can help us get back to normal. They can get back no matter how far they’ve fallen.”

Mr. Koonce is now in an apartment in Southwest DC overlooking the Potomac River, enrolled in a Back to Work program, and maintaining a regular relationship with his primary care physician. He is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau at Miriam’s Kitchen.

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