For the average student, the idea of attending school full-time while living out of a van seems like a nightmare, but for Ramone Williams, it’s reality. This 26-year-old senior is struggling his way through undergrad, trying to finish school and make a better life for himself.
Williams, currently homeless, is now looking for an internship to complete his undergraduate degree in electronic media and film studies with a minor in communication media and theatre arts comprehensive.
While growing up, Williams’ grandmother cared for him and his brother in Flint, Michigan, making sure they had plenty of guidance and encouragement during their childhood and making sure they both attended school through high school. He had no real relationship with his father, and his mother did not have the financial means to care for them.
When Williams graduated high school, he took a semester off, using the time to work and decide what he wanted to do next in life, then enrolled in his local community college, graduating with an associate’s degree with honors. This helped him immensely with scholarships and enrolling at Eastern Michigan University.
Before coming to EMU, Williams took two years off to care for his grandmother who had become ill.
“I knew it was a possibility that if I wanted to finish my degree in the near future, I would most likely have to do it living out of a vehicle,” Williams said.
After caring for his grandmother, he came to understand his financial situation would not allow him to attend college andhave a place to live. After finding a van for a decent price, he saw living from it as a viable option to attend school.
“Most people have it in the back of their mind that homelessness can occur, but for me, it was something I knew was going to happen if I wanted to put myself through school,” Williams said. “I thought if I had a van, I could do okay until I graduated.”
Williams quickly ran out of options for aid from EMU, leading him to believe that the university should begin to implement more resources for students in similar situations.
During his time at EMU, he confided in Joi Rencher, who is a part of the MAGIC Program, a program that helps students who have been through the foster system or homelessness. Rencher has served as a sort of therapist for Williams, talking him through hardships and listening to him when he is in need.
“She served as sort of a buffer for me, between me and my difficulties,” Williams said. “She was the first person I really confided in here.”
A woman that works with homeless youth in his hometown of Flint, Victoria Harris, has set up a GoFundMe account for Williams, which has currently raised over $25,800. Aside from that, Williams has current plans that include finding an apartment, finding an internship to complete his degree, and moving on to working in broadcasting or film.
“I’d be hard-pressed to say there were times I didn’t want to quit,” said Williams. “But I’m stubborn, I didn’t want to take the easy way out. I wanted an education.”
