Steve, a US Marine Veteran, has lived at our New Visions Omaha campus for 13 years now. Steve will be the first to tell you that his time at New Visions has changed him. “I was a broken soul when I got here,” says Steve, “in fact, the staff was taking bets about how long I would last. I was a tough person to deal with.” Having dealt with drug addiction, gambling, and homelessness, Steve had been in and out of other shelters and had hit bottom when he arrived at New Visions. In addition to his addiction, Steve also dealt with anger issues and would quickly escalate himself and others around him into a rage.
Through a slow and deliberate process, our staff team in Omaha worked with Steve to overcome his addictions and his anger. “One of the best things New Visions gave me was time and trust,” says Steve, “I needed both of those things to get to where I am today.” Steve Roberts, our Omaha Site Director, remembers allowing Steve to use his office as a place to release his anger and vent. “I even gave him my cell phone number so he could call me day or night,” says Roberts. This openness, availability, and time led to good conversations that allowed Steve to eventually beat his addictions and better manage his anger.
Today, Steve is considered a leader on a campus full of veterans who have led and served their country. He drives other vets to appointments and even contributes to conflict resolution between others on our campus. “It’s nice to be counted on,” says Steve. “I never dreamed I’d be where I am today, and I owe so much to the staff and the environment at New Visions. They gave me a chance when others wouldn’t. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.” We are proud to be a part of Steve’s story, and grateful for the opportunity to serve those who so selflessly served our country.
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