MKHONORS SHEILAWHITE

#SPOTLIGHT

This Spring, Miriam’s Kitchen will honor Sheila White, an amazing community leader, at our 2023 Gala. Sheila’s journey from experiencing homelessness to becoming an anti-homelessness advocate has led to many incredible things. Most recently, she is profiled in (and produced) the short documentary “Street Reporter ” We caught up with Sheila to ask her about the documentary and upcoming honors at the MK Gala

Congratulations on being honored at the Miriam’s Kitchen Annual Gala! How did you feel when you heard the news that you were going to be honored?

When I got the call…I had so many emotions. I was crying, I was like, ‘really?’ I don’t know if I was crying because of the joy of the accomplishment, or it was the joy of someone noticing the fact that I cared I was all kinds of excited; I was emotional, honored but I really think the honor goes to Miriam’s Kitchen, you know because they saved my life So, it was an honor, very much so

Part of your journey from experiencing homelessness to becoming a housing advocate is told in the documentary “Street Reporter.” For those who haven’t seen it, how would you describe the film?

I describe the film as a way of showing the world, and even other homeless people, that even though you’re homeless, you can still be resilient and achieve your goals and your accomplishments And to let the world know that because I was homeless, I’m not invisible, I’m human Because they tend to treat me – when I was homeless – as somebody that was non-existent The opportunity to share that, and let people know that I’m still human, I still have feelings, I still have dreams and hopes basically, that was one of the main reasons why I was willing to do the documentary

What’s one thing you hope that people learn from the “Street Reporter” documentary?

That I’m human – that I’m a human being.

In your own words, describe the current state of housing and homelessness in Washington, D.C.

Our government needs to put more funding into mental health, it needs to put more funding into social workers, it needs to put more funding into permanent housing, and talk to some developers who are building these condos that are sitting all around D C and all in the inner cities…and make it affordable for people who need it.

What is the most important thing you’d like to accomplish as an anti-homelessness advocate?

I would like to see chronic homelessness end. I would like to see homelessness end period, but if you don’t have jobs for people to maintain their rent If they don’t have social workers to get people the help they need…Mentors – we need mentors, you know, we need people that can help pull people up off their bootstraps Most of them out there are mentally whipped, and it’s not all the time by addiction I had a flood It wasn’t addiction that put me on the street, it was a flood And I didn’t know how to navigate the system, then the system makes you go from one place to the next place The system will send you to get your ID in one place, get your birth certificate at another place, but when it comes to navigating other things – trying to get a lawyer, or somebody to speak for you because you can’t speak for yourself – people give up. Because I gave up I didn’t know how to talk, I didn’t know how to advocate for myself, and I didn’t know where to go When it came to me still sleeping out there in them cold winter months and hot summer days, I didn’t know who to turn to When I got into the shelter it was the same thing, I was given the runaround We need – you know, it’s just, we need funding, in all areas Educational areas, all areas just need funding And we need people that care and really want to do the job

What else would you like to add?

When you see somebody that’s down and out, a smile takes them a long way Even when you’re going through your mess, just a smile and saying ‘how are you doing’ to anybody on the street or if you’re on the bus or if you’re at your job Just smile, you know? Just smile and say ‘how are you doing’ – that means a lot to people I know it meant a lot to me because I didn’t smile for years, but now I do. Most people don’t look at themselves – see themselves, and we need to learn to see ourselves.