Curtis's Story

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? Maybe to study for an exam or because of travel, or perhaps you have experienced the kind of grief or trauma that can keep you up at night. But have you ever HAD to stay awake all night in order to keep yourself or your loved ones safe? How about out in the woods by the river? And how about doing this for nearly 15 years? If this sounds like a survival/adventure TV show, it is far from that. But in fact, this scenario plays out daily right here in Council Bluffs.

Many in our community may recognize Curtis. He and his wife have been together for nearly 10 years, most of which have been spent living out of shelter, moving from one place to the next, spending countless sleepless nights trying to protect themselves. But last week, after many years of sleepless nights and wandering, Curtis and his wife got the keys to their own apartment. “Not ever having a good night’s sleep,” says Curtis, “it gets to you. It has made me sick to my stomach and affected my overall physical and mental health staying awake all night for so long.”

But when they were just getting started in life several years ago, Curtis and his wife never imagined they would spend 15 years on the streets. Curtis’s wife got her GED, and Curtis even enlisted in the Army and went to basic training before things began to fall apart in his life. While in basic training, Curtis’s grandmother passed away. His grandmother had raised him, so it was like losing his mother before he was 20 years old. Curtis spiraled and left the Army, ending up homeless. Curtis struggles being in crowds of people, so staying in shelter brought bouts of high anxiety that caused him to turn to the streets.

While living out of shelter, our staff continued to connect with Curtis and his wife to make sure they had their basic needs met. “I’m so thankful for the support of New Visions throughout our whole journey,” says Curtis. “They all kept up with us no matter where we went. Rachel made me comfortable enough to ask for help and eat meals indoors despite my anxiety. Mike at the Shelter desk became my friend and helped me to get out of my head space and ask for help without making me feel ashamed. And Destyni always initiated contact with us, she never shied away or ignored us.”

Tonight, after 15 years of restless running, after 15 years of being constantly burdened by fear and anxiety and sleeplessness and trauma layered upon trauma, Curtis and his wife are finally able to rest. They are finally able to breathe. When asked what they are looking forward to most about having a place of their own, Curtis says, “Having a stable home and a roof over our heads is really all that we need. But I’m excited to cook my own food too. I love making homemade-style hamburger helper or tuna helper.” We’re excited for Curtis and his wife too, and we’ll be right here to continue supporting them as they begin a new life brimming with hope and opportunity. Oh, and hamburger helper too.

Our work with Curtis is made possible in part by a grant from the @Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization dedicated to ensuring that our nation's veterans have stable and successful futures. We're proud to be a member of the Bob Woodruff Foundation's #Gotyour6 Network.