Kellie Gregory thrives after 22 years of homelessness and addiction

Today, we're talking with Kellie Gregory, Program Manager for our Tulsa Street Outreach team.  Kellie was born into instability, with a mom and stepfather who battled drug addiction and were in and out of prison. She was a teen mom who went on to spend twenty-two years struggling with homelessness, addiction and the carceral system herself, before entering Women in Recovery.    Kellie’s story is one of both grit and grace, and it allows her to connect with the people she serves every day. She has source value from her lived experience and uses it to help others in need.   This conversation with Kellie shines a spotlight on how effective diversion programs and support systems are, and we are grateful for her coming on. In the conversation, she referenced sourcing donations for individuals coming out of homelessness. If you would like to help, please email donations@mhaok.org. If you see someone experiencing homelessness, let us know via the Street Outreach and Rapid Response page of our website: www.mhaok.org, and if you or someone you know needs substance use or mental health care resources, give us a call at 918.585.1213 or 405.943.3700, or again, let us know via our website at www.mhaok.org.  

Om Podcasten

Mental Health Association Oklahoma created The Mental Health Download podcast to share stories each week about mental illness, homelessness, incarceration and suicide, and how each can impact our lives in a profound way. Mental health affects everyone, yet the social stigma attached to mental health issues keeps so many of our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbors silent. Why are we so afraid to talk about these issues? Each week, our host Adi McCasland invites guests to share how mental illness, suicide, homelessness and incarceration have affected their work or lives.