Daniel Williams: At Home, At Last
by Christy Wylie, January 2011
“Pluto,” explains Daniel Williams, a seventh grader at Mountain Valley Middle School in Canyon Lake, “is only twice the size of its moon. And still,” he continues incredulously, “the moon revolves around it.” With a vocabulary and a passion bigger than his years, Daniel explains his third grade science project on Pluto, where began his fascination with space and his future as an aeronautics and aerospace engineer. This now thirteen-year-old boy, no stranger to hunger and homelessness, has known less than an easy life, and yet, he stays focused and keeps hope alive. Like the small planet that captures his imagination, Daniel manages to hold his own in a world that is sometimes vast and indifferent.
Gwen Cunningham, the project director with Communities In Schools of South Central Texas (CIS) who works closely with Daniel Williams and his family, describes the Williams as “responsible, loving people who have always gotten by.” Cunningham recalls, “Daniel came to Mountain Valley as a sixth grader last year, and at that time, CIS just helped him with school supplies.” The family was surviving until Earnie Williams, Daniel’s father, had a series of transient ischemic attacks (TIA), defined by the American Heart Association as “mini-strokes that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage,” in late 2009. Despite Earnie Williams’ health insurance provider’s refusal to pay for medical leave and his difficulty in obtaining disability compensation due to the strokes being diagnosed as “non-permanent damage causing strokes,” he wasn’t able to work for several months, and he had to struggle not to lose his job as a check processor at a bank. The Williams were evicted from their home in January 2010 after not being able to make their rent payments. Suddenly, this hardworking family of five was homeless, hungry and stranded.
Daniel Williams has memories of CIS reaching back to first grade: CIS had helped him get new shoes and free lunches during hard times; had provided his older sisters, Breanne and Ashleigh with guidance, school supplies and clothes; and had put the family in touch with the PTA Holiday Giving Tree to help out with Christmas presents. It was during their time of transience, however, that the Williams family began receiving more critical services from CIS. “Daniel started coming to me more to get support,” says Cunningham. “He was worrying about how to pay the bills, where his family was going to live, and if his father would be permanently disabled.” In addition to providing counseling and supportive guidance, Cunningham availed of CIS resources to provide the family with gas cards and help them qualify for food stamps, Medicaid, and Comal Independent School District’s Services for Homeless Students.
After the Williams were evicted, they sought temporary housing for a couple of months in a two-room summer cabin normally rented by the week to vacationers. With tourism season fast approaching though, the Williams were given notice to leave. As the family again faced being out in the cold, Cunningham received an auspicious phone call.
A businessman in the community who wishes to remain anonymous contacted CIS about wanting to help a family in need by donating the rental of a vacant home he owned. “Because of the poor economy, he wanted to help,” explains Cunningham, who told the man about the Williams family as soon as she learned of the opportunity. “When he heard their story,” she recalls, “he wanted to meet them.” With the help of CIS, the Williams family and the gentleman were introduced to each other and they hit it off well. On March 13, CIS helped the Williams move into their new home where they pay ten dollars per month in rent. Although the property is outside of Mountain Valley Middle School’s boundaries, due to his involvement with the homeless program, Daniel is able to continue attending as a result of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which enables homeless students to continue their schooling without disruptions caused by boundary issues, and to continue to be eligible for school district transportation and free and reduced lunches.
According to Cunningham, “CIS is being called upon more than usual these days because of the poor economy.” She explains, “CIS frequently serves students in poverty, but now, people like the Williams who do not traditionally struggle with poverty are losing their jobs and needing Medicaid and food stamps. Because of the recession, more people are both asking for help and helping.” Cunningham goes on to describe other students in similar situations—some who are sleeping in their families’ cars and doing laundry and showering at school. “What this man has done,” Cunningham says of the property owner, “has helped the Williams family buy the time they need to get back on their feet.” Cunningham encourages other community members to reach out to CIS and help someone in need. “There are so many ways to help—donating cars and other large items, for example,” she continues. “Communities In Schools has a reputation for being a good steward of community resources. That reputation has enabled people to call.”
“This house is a blessing,” says Daniel of his new residence. “Without this house, we wouldn’t have an address to receive our food stamps, we wouldn’t have met the new friends we have, and,” he adds with a smile, “I wouldn’t have my own room.” He describes his hikes in the woods where he spends afternoons looking for animal tracks. “The nearest house is two football fields away, and we have our own water well,” he says with pride. The Williams family has an 18-month lease with the option at the end to renew at regular price.
“I always think of life as good,” says Manette Williams, Daniel’s mother, “and now it’s gotten better.” It is easy to see, in talking with Manette, why optimism comes naturally to her son. “My husband is back at work, we have a beautiful place to live, the kids are happy and healthy—just being alive is the silver lining.”
“Gratitude is a trait that the Williams have instilled in their children,” explains Cunningham. “Now that things are looking up, Daniel comes by my office at least once a week to say thank you and to update me on good things that are happening.” Even amidst their own struggles, the Williams family has taken other children in need of help into their home. “We’ve taken CIS’s help and been appreciative,” Manette Williams explains. “Now that things are getting better, it’s time to pull back and let someone else benefit.” She is mindful of other opportunities in the community for CIS to bring students and their families together with community resources—the kind of resources that can foster success.
Daniel has maintained A and B grades in pre-advanced placement classes, excellent school attendance, and has remained involved in athletics throughout the family’s difficulties. “That is one of the things that has impressed me about him,” explains Cunningham. “Because of his maturity, he comes to school and does great even in the face of all the stress.”
“I focused on school when I was at school,” says Daniel. “I focused on homework while I was doing homework. Baseball and football have taught me how to focus,” he explains, “and I’ve learned that is the key to getting through hard times. Even when things around me change, I just keep focusing.” Daniel plans to graduate from high school and someday attend Stanford University or the University of Denver as a student of aeronautics. His goal in life is to send the first manned mission to Pluto.