Katherine Keller is one of our Phoenix House volunteers. “I love volunteering here. I’m on disability so I come as often as possible.”
Katherine is no stranger to the often revolving door of a recovering addict’s journey. “I’ve been involved with drugs since 1989- using, selling. I been to rehab three times, spent time in prison. One time I got out and went to a sober-living facility, but people there were using. I relapsed.”
She completed her last treatment program and again went to a sober-living facility. “But I decided to go back to my boyfriend and he was using. And yes, I relapsed again.”
Katherine got another drug charge in 2022 and went back to prison. “I got out Dec. 6th, 2024 and went to Phoenix House. “St. Francis House is where we come right after we got out. We get four outfits, a pair of shoes, socks and underclothes, our bus pass and a purse or backpack. We come here for food too and they’re even helping with my medications until my medical starts March.”
Katherine continued, “I got help from St. Francis House even before, when I was on the streets. The help I got here was enough that it kept me from doing worse things. And I’ll keep volunteering as much as I can. I believe everyone in recovery should do community work. We know what it’s like and know the resources that are needed. I know there is a stigma to being in recovery, but I would tell people not to hate the addict; hate the disease. It’s hard out there.”