Local

Woman fights to help end homelessness among female veterans

YORK, S.C. — Ann Freeman is fortunate that her elderly parents took her in.

Freeman was a captain in the Air Force, until a car accident ended her military career.

"I couldn't live by myself anymore because I kept falling and getting really bruised.  And mom and dad asked me to come live with them,” Freeman said.

She says less fortunate female veterans can end up homeless.

“I just don't want to see these women put out on the street with nowhere to go,” Freeman said.

Mary Pace, whose husband served in Vietnam, has her heart set on opening a shelter for women veterans in York County.

"This is something that's really important to me. It's something I feel like that God wants me to do,” Pace said.

She took her crusade to government officials in Rock Hill, York County and the city of York, where they told her, they'd work with her.

"We appointed a subcommittee, made up of two of our veterans who are on council.  They have met with Mary,” York Mayor Eddie Lee said.

What Pace needs now is a building.  She hopes someone will donate one with space for at least 25 beds.

She's driven throughout the county looking for such a place, but cost is an obstacle, and she can't apply for grant money until she has a commitment for a building.

"I've got people willing to help me re-do whatever building it is, if it needs fixing,” Pace said.

Women like Freeman who are disabled, but too young for assisted living, may need a place like that.

"I think a lot of the homeless vets that are women, they'd probably be right in there,” Freeman said.