More than a Sign
Ken’s face is one many Rochester residents will recognize as a man they’ve seen holding a cardboard sign just like this one.
For nearly 13 years, Ken has experienced homelessness in Olmsted County.
“I’ve probably made over 100 of these signs over the years,” said Ken, “you can maybe make then last for a week before they bend and are no good, anymore.”
He says his signs really invited people to talk to him. “I met so many more people when I was flying a sign. People would do things like buy me socks. I had a lot of interesting interactions.
“I’m a curious person; I like to learn new things. That’s how you get to know people, asking them about themselves. I learned everything from how people garden to how to build a rocket.”
Last week, Ken moved into a unit at The Salvation Army Castleview Apartments.
“Being on the street was pretty damaging,” said Ken, “Now that I have a place, I have some breathing room. I’m working on getting my credit score up. I’m applying for work, something where I get to work outside.”
Ken says that the process of applying for work is actually easy. The challenge is finding an employer willing to work with someone who has a record. “I’m actually overqualified for most of the jobs I apply for, but I have a criminal history. It’s hard to get a job with that.
“Now I have the Case Manager at Castleview for a job reference. I can send an application knowing my reference has a working phone number.”
Ken shared that his job history includes everything from roofing to landscaping to remodeling homes. “I also used to do the cleanup after house fires. That job was super rewarding. I must have had 60 jobs since I was 15. The military was the job I loved the most. It taught me my strong work ethic.”
Ken joined the Army when he was 24. He still folds his socks and hangs his shirts the same way he did when he was in the military.
He shared that his time in the Army was a time of sobriety. “I had a schedule, work to do, people all around me. I was never lonely.” He experienced a relapse after his honorable discharge.
Ken came to Rochester about 9 years ago to go to treatment at Pathways for Men. He was a part of that program for several months before another relapse set him back again. “Being homeless is really up and down.”
He has been sober for 3 weeks now, and continues to attend regular meetings at Pioneer. “Having a community of people to support you and hold you accountable is really important to being sober. People make me laugh. They also piss me off, but that’s the trade off.”
Ken was born in Gilbert, MN, and has lived in MN for most of his life. “I love the winters here. You don’t have bugs, no snakes, and no brown recluse spiders. I had a buddy get bit my one of them, and he still has the scar.”
He shared that he loves to golf, something he learned to do alongside his father when he was young. “Once you hit a birdie, you’re hooked,” said Ken, “My dad started playing when I was a kid, so I quit baseball and started golfing with him. Giants Ridge is my favorite golf course. I remember we’d golf 36 holes in one day.”
He continues to enjoy sewing, a skill he learned in the Army. He’s a self-proclaimed dog person, and someone who enjoys cooking for other people. “It’s boring if you’re only cooking for yourself.” Ken says his favorite meal to cook is spaghetti, and his favorite meal to eat is pizza. He does think pineapple belongs on pizza.
Ken also enjoys his time at the gym. “I love maxing out weight and reps. If I skip a day, I really feel it. It’s a big part of me doing my best.”
Since his move to Castleview, Ken shared that he’s received lots of well wishes and congratulatory messages from people he’s met over the last decade. “People stop me all the time to say they’re happy for me. It’s nice to know people listen to what I say, remember my words, and even reuse them.”
He shared that the biggest challenge since moving into an apartment has been setting health boundaries with the people in his life. “You know, I can’t just let all the people I used to hang out with come around my apartment all the time. I’m trying to build a healthy community for myself, focus on my sobriety, and just keep doing my best.
“I strive to be the best, to do the best I can.”
For more information about The Salvation Army Castleview Apartments, please visit RochesterSA.org.