A Degree of Honor: The Story of Kimm Perez
Thirty-two year old Kimm Perez, standing out in front of the newly renovated Oxford Apartment Complex where she resides, has experienced a "bricks and mortar upgrade" of her own in recent years. Kimm offers one of the Houston Housing Authority's most inspiring stories because of her against-all-odds achievements.
Born in New Orleans, Kimm was only 8- years old when she and her mother moved to Houston. Kimm attended Lamar High School, where a whole new world opened up for her.
Although she was a focused and dedicated student, Kimm became pregnant in her senior year at Lamar. After her daughter, Cali, was born, Kimm took several jobs but soon realized her career options were limited due to her lack of higher education.
Kimm enrolled in North Harris Community College. As she was finishing her associate's degree, she realized that to accomplish her goal, she would have to work fewer hours to concentrate on school and take care of her daughter. She looked to the Houston Housing Authority to supplement her financial needs so she could get her education and still raise her daughter in a good environment. Soon after receiving housing at Oxford Apartments, she began pursuing her bachelor of science degree at the University of Houston- Downtown. Although Kimm was sure about her goal, she had questions about how to get there. She found answers in the Housing Authority's Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program.
The program gave Kimm the tools she needed to get into graduate school. She took classes related to money management to learn how to budget and, eventually, buy a home.
Shortly after receiving her bachelor's degree, Kimm decided to pursue a master's degree in psychology, which she received from Houston Baptist University. Today, Kimm has obtained her professional counselor and sex offender treatment licenses. She has defied society's statistics and become a single mother driven to provide more opportunities for herself and her daughter.
"I want to let others know that everyone has potential and furthering your education can reinforce those strengths and guide you to making better life choices."