Kristi's Story

Last month, we had the privilege of meeting Kristi at our Veteran's dresser assembly volunteer event. Kristi shared how she had been helped in the past by New Visions, and that she was now in a place to be able to give back by volunteering her time. We asked Kristi to share how she was impacted by New Visions, and what we got was a beautiful story of perseverance, redemption, and hope. Here's a part of Kristi's story in her own words:

"My name is Kristi, and I was born right here in Council Bluffs in the late '80s. I grew up in an environment that wasn't always safe. At different points, I was sent to places like Children's Square and into foster care. By the age of 24, I had 4 beautiful children, but by the age of 30, I was a single mom struggling to survive. I turned to relationships and drugs to ease my mental health struggles and to address the trauma of my past.

My addiction eventually consumed every part of my life. I ruined relationships, stopped paying bills, neglected my responsibilities, and no longer cared about the consequences of my choices. I lost my children and became homeless.

Like most people, I didn’t become homeless overnight. For months, I packed and unpacked the few belongings I had left, moving from place to place. I often made my way to New Visions Homeless Services and sat with people who listened, who wanted to help, and who fed me when I had nowhere else to go.

In 2023, I finally reached my breaking point and began to get the help I needed. Stable housing with a community of support, regular doctor's appointments, taking my medication, and going to therapy helped me continue to heal. In April of 2025, I finally moved into my own apartment and called the one place I knew would listen to my story and help in any way they could: New Visions Homeless Services. They didn't just stock my refrigerator and cupboards for the first month, they also surrounded me with resources, encouragement, and support.

In September of 2026, I will be 3 years sober. I now work for an amazing nonprofit, NAMI Southwest Iowa, where I have the privilege of giving back to my community and helping people who are fighting to escape the life that nearly took mine.

Today I’m honored and grateful to be able to share my story, and I want others to know that no matter how far YOU may have fallen, YOUR story isn't over. I’m thankful to those who believed in me and helped me along the way, and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be that person for others."

Kristi, we're so humbled to have played a small part in your recovery. We're glad we could make an impact through food security, listening without judgement, and simply being present. Thank you for sharing your story and for supporting others in theirs.