Kimberly Williams served her country as a Navy aviation technician from 1980-1983. “I pretty much grew up in Florida. My parents divorced when I was three, and my brother, who has some mental health issues, lived with my dad here in Arkansas. I began working at fifteen to help my mom support my younger sister. I joined the Navy right after high school.”
Ms. Williams left the Navy and continued to help her mom and sister. She did not tell anyone that she had been sexually assaulted while in the military. “I worked construction and security for over twenty years. I tried to get my electronics degree, but it was hard for a woman, and it was hard to focus on school while working full time. And no, I never reported what had happened to me. I just thought I was strong enough to deal with it.”
Ms. Williams was working two part-time jobs to help her family and barely making it. She told a co-worker and Veteran that she was thinking of quitting and leaving Florida. Her friend and another co-worker told her about Veteran benefits like HUD/VASH and helped her check into them. “It was a miracle. I got help with housing, eventually got a full-time job, and finally got help with my mental health issues. “
Ms. Williams worked full-time as a police service tech at the University of Florida Medical School when she hurt her hip. That injury led to retirement and filing for disability earlier this year. ” My father had passed away in 2006, and I had made a relative here in Arkansas the administrator of my the estate and my brother’s affairs. That wasn’t working out so well, and trying to help long-distance was too much. My sister was married, and mom didn’t need my help, and I was sick enough and tired enough to retire and get on disability. My case manager at the VA thought we could port my HUD/VASH to Arkansas, but that didn’t work, so I came to St. Francis House. “It’s a good place, and my caseworker from Florida still checks on me every two weeks. I have food and shelter and, more important, fellowship, camaraderie, and everyone works together.”
Ms. Williams is planning on finding housing first and continuing to take care of herself mentally and physically. She is helping her brother and trying to get his affairs in order. She hopes to build a place on her father’s land after she gets back on her feet.