Drew's Story

Before entering the Army at age 18, Drew had lost his mother only 2 years prior. While this loss shaped his young life, he eventually ventured out on his own and had an apartment in Omaha after leaving the Army. But his trauma kept him from being ready for independence, and he was evicted in March of 2025. As a Veteran, Drew was eligible for our “low-demand” program at New Visions Omaha, a program that offers food, shelter, and support for up to 2 years.

Our Omaha Veteran’s Campus has been a perfect fit for Drew, allowing him time and space to work on himself. “The entire atmosphere is safe and positive,” says Drew, “what’s special about this place is that they won’t let you fall through the cracks. The entire staff is making sure I get back into the game.” Drew’s case worker, Sheila, says, “Drew has come a long way and made so many strides. He works full-time, has saved up enough money to own a car, and has paid down his debt. He is a role-model for all of the Veterans and a ray of sunshine on our campus.”

Drew has also worked towards housing and qualified for a HUD VASH voucher, which secures a spot for him to be housed locally and provides critical rental assistance for homeless Veterans. Once he’s ready for it, independent housing will give Drew the freedom to do things that are harder to do in a communal setting, such as cooking and singing. Drew was a contestant on American Idol Season 6, and working on his singing is one of many things that Drew is looking forward to doing when he has a place of his own.

At New Visions, we’re grateful to the Bob Woodruff Foundation  for making it possible for us to provide essential services for Veterans like Drew who simply need a reset in life. As our CEO often says, “Life isn’t a 9-inning game, we play until we win.” And this is so true for Veterans like Drew, who have a second chance to build their lives, thanks to the support of Veteran-focused organizations like the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the #Gotyour6 network.