Fighting Homelessness and Supporting Veterans in Southern West Virginia with Kimberly Williams

In this episode of Our Communiversity Today, Dr. T. Ramon Stuart, president of WVU Tech, welcomes Kimberly Williams, Outreach and Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing Coordinator for Southern West Virginia Housing. Dr. Stuart opens the conversation by reflecting on his own upbringing in McDowell County and how stable, affordable housing shaped his early life. From there, the discussion moves into Kim’s work across southern West Virginia, supporting families, individuals, and veterans who need a safe place to call home.

Kim shares her personal journey back to Beckley and how her own experience in low-income housing led to a career dedicated to helping others find stability. Together, she and Dr. Stuart explore the challenges of homelessness, the importance of community agencies working in sync, and the misconceptions that often surround low-income residents. She explains the growing demand for landlords willing to participate in housing programs, the creation of a resource shelf that now serves as a lifeline for visitors, and the real stories behind local housing insecurity.

A significant portion of the conversation centers on veterans in need. Kim explains how the Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing program works, why many former service members hesitate to seek help, and how 45 available vouchers remain unused simply because veterans don’t realize support is there for them. Dr. Stuart emphasizes the responsibility communities share in offering a hand up, not a handout, and highlights Southern West Virginia Housing’s impact across ten counties.