by Marilyn Young, freelance writer for United Way of Northeast Florida

Chris Kleila and his sister, Marisol Williams, have endured a lot of loss over the past year or so. They lost their mother. They lost their home. They lost a cooler full of his insulin.

But they found help, hope and a new home thanks to Mission United.

United Way of Northeast Florida’s Mission United initiative works with organizations to help military service members, Veterans and their families find stability in their lives. Now, Kleila (who served in the U.S. Navy) and Williams feel hopeful again.

The beginning of trouble

The siblings moved to Jacksonville in 2021 for Williams’ job as a program manager for mental health services at Gateway Community Services. Their mother lived with them for a short time after being diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Having to make several trips to Tampa for their mom’s treatment and then having to pay for her funeral last year was overwhelming emotionally and financially.

In the early stages of their grief, they ended up living in their car. That brought an avalanche of new problems. Because they had no way to cook, they weren’t eating properly. That can be especially tough on 60-year-old Kleila, who was diagnosed with diabetes at age 24.

Without a refrigerator, they couldn’t properly store his insulin pens, which went bad. The two scrimped together enough money to buy a cooler to store a new round of insulin. But as the ice began to melt, water got inside the pens and ruined the medication. They were devastated.

Finding help through Mission United

Williams, a social worker for 25 years, often referred her clients to United Way 211, the organization’s free, 24/7 information and referral helpline. Now, it was her turn to make the call. When she did, life for Kleila and Williams began to change.

They found assistance through Mission United that, since 2019, has been helping Veterans and their families navigate the maze of resources available to them through the U.S. Veterans Administration and other agencies.

Mission United is especially important in Northeast Florida, which has the largest population of military personnel, Veterans and their family members in Florida and the third largest in the country. About one in every four households in Northeast Florida has someone with a military background.

Williams said the program paid for the siblings to live in a hotel for two months. They’re now in an apartment, where half the rent is being subsidized for two years by United way partner, Changing Homelessness.

The siblings also received guidance from the office of U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, a well-known champion for Veterans whose district covers Nassau and Clay counties, and part of Duval County.

Mission to support veterans

Making that first call for help can be difficult for Veterans. Mission United’s Care Coordinators Mary Bates and Jeremy Ruffner—who are Veterans themselves—agree Veterans are taught to be resilient and not ask for assistance.

One of the first questions asked of people who call United Way 211 is if they are a Veteran or are living in a military household. Last year, those calls totaled more than 5,200, with 80% looking for help to pay their rent or mortgage.

A lack of affordable housing in the area has drained many people’s savings, taking away their financial cushion to stay afloat during an emergency. That leads to many heartbreaking circumstances, such as a Veteran’s family with six children ages 3-17 who needed housing. Within a month, that family was able to move into a house in Middleburg.

A $20,000 grant last year from the VyStar Foundation helps support emergency needs for the most vulnerable Veterans. $17,000 has been spent to provide 450 nights of housing to families.

Grateful, thankful and humbled for the help

Williams and Kleila truly appreciate the assistance that put them on a path to success.

“The whole United Way team acted so quickly and were so compassionate,” Williams said. “We’re grateful, we’re thankful, we’re humbled.”

Kleila said he appreciates how hard his sister worked with Mission United to get help.

“She was telling them how bad I needed to be taken care of and she felt bad for me,” he said. “And she was so beautiful.”

Williams told a woman at her church how much the United Way was helping her and her brother. The woman said she donates to the United Way.

“Now I know where the money goes,” she told Williams.

Donations from individuals like you are critical in continuing life-saving work through United Way of Northeast Florida and our partners. Give today to change a life forever.