Robert's Story
Before he first walked into our homeless shelter 16 years ago, Robert had suffered from a bad relationship that left him with nothing but the clothes on his back. Homelessness had left him feeling utterly hopeless. But Robert had also served in the US Army, where he learned many skills including hard work, de-escalation, and leadership. Soon after arriving at our Emergency Shelter, Robert began volunteering and quickly proved himself, earning many other responsibilities around campus. Robert not only worked hard around campus, but he also worked hard on himself. Robert soon joined a church where he met his wife, and this newfound relationship gave him even more reason to continue his path towards healing and stability.
Over the years, Robert found steady employment, served in his church, and grew a family with his wife. He had completely turned away from his past, however, some of the choices he had made during his bout with homelessness had caused his teeth to severely decay, and this was a daily reminder of his past. In April of 2025, Robert joined our staff at New Visions Homeless Services, truly coming full-circle in a role providing leadership and security to our campus and guests. As a veteran who has experienced homelessness, Robert qualified for a grant through the Bob Woodruff Foundation to replace the teeth that were a constant reminder of his past struggles. Recently, Robert’s process of receiving full dentures was complete, truly reclaiming what he had lost.
Robert’s story is an inspiration to our guests and to the community as he uses his skills to further our mission of offering help, hope, and opportunity to our neighbors experiencing hunger and homelessness. Robert is grateful to the Bob Woodruff Foundation for helping him to fully put his past behind him, looking and smiling towards the bright future ahead.
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