The Stories
Caregiver - Karen Kay
Caring for Herself
Karen Kay lives in a nice condo in South Tampa and enjoys floral arranging, cross-stitching, spending time with friends and caring for her two kittens. The 50-year-old has a sunny personality and is grateful for the good life. Most wouldn't know that Karen Kay is a recovering alcoholic whose battle with mental illness has been a lifelong journey. It's hard to believe that nearly two years ago she was homeless and scared, surviving hand-to-mouth on the streets.
Life Before Homelessness
After graduating from high school, Karen Kay followed in her dad's footsteps and joined the Air Force. She was in the service for eight years, married a fellow airman and they had two sons. The family enjoyed living in a close-knit military community where they played cards and barbequed with friends on the weekends.
Karen Kay's husband was stationed away from home most of the time, so she juggled a full-time military career while raising the boys almost single-handedly. She drank alcohol to deal with stress and depression, and when she realized she had a drinking problem, she entered a treatment program.
After the military, Karen Kay started a new career providing in-home care to elderly and disabled patients, and her 10-year marriage ended. Later, when her mom became sick, her dad asked Karen Kay to move to Florida and help care for her mother. Since her teenage sons were living with her ex-husband, she agreed to move to Central Florida to be with her parents. While taking care of her mother, Karen Kay also worked at a retail store but once again began abusing alcohol. She eventually entered a treatment program but wasn't able to stay sober.
Homeless in Florida
After her mother died, Karen Kay was living with her dad and one of her sons. Deeply depressed, her drinking spiraled out of control. A violent altercation with her son ended with her spending 30 days in jail. Her guilt and shame were too much to bear and Karen Kay headed to Orlando, where she lived on the streets for five months. Arrested again for a probation violation, she served a second stint in jail. She was released back into homelessness.
All ties to her family and past severed, Karen Kay sought refuge with other homeless people in a wooded area over the next year. She worked as a day laborer and spent the money she earned on alcohol. Nighttime among strangers was particularly scary for Karen Kay, and she drank heavily to deal with her fear. She bathed in public restrooms, and occasionally she and a few others pooled their money to get a motel room so they could shower and sleep in a bed. One night, Karen Kay was attacked and beaten at the campsite by a man who had been stalking her. After being hospitalized for injuries, her dad took pity on her and put her up in a motel room. While recovering, Karen Kay realized that she needed help to overcome her addiction or she would die homeless.
The Road to Recovery
As a veteran, Karen Kay was able to enroll in a three-week mental health program at the VA hospital in Tampa, where she was diagnosed and treated for depression and bipolar disorder. She was also referred to the same residential treatment program where she had been treated before and wasn't sure if she could beat her addiction. But with her mental illness under control with proper treatment, she was able to work through issues from her childhood and learn skills to cope with her addiction. She successfully completed the recovery program in eight months, and the program staff and VA worked together to find her permanent housing.
Life Now
Karen Kay has been sober for over a year. She attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings almost every day and continues outpatient treatment and counseling at the VA. She has worked very hard to get her life back in order and wants to stay healthy and sober. Karen Kay's goal is to go back to school to study addictions and recovery. Her dream is to open a half-way house where homeless addicts can safely transition from life on the streets to long-term treatment programs.
