Hope Street of Siouxland using Siouxland Sleepout funds for wellness retreats

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — It's a series Siouxland News has shared all month long about how participants have an impact beyond the Siouxland Sleepout.

This will be the second year Hope Street of Siouxland has been a benefiting organization of the Sleepout.

The group's goal is to help individuals off the street through personalized long-term care and services.

"If I was going to keep doing this I was definitely going to die," William Barnett told Siouxland News.

Barnett battled drugs and drinking for five years.

He was in and out of treatment and centers and often found himself living on the streets.

"I slept in parks and did the whole street living for a little while. A lot of visits to the hospital," Barnett said. "So I was able to have had somewhere to stay then."

During a hospital stay, he was told he had three months to live if he didn't change his habits.

That's when Sara Johnson came into his life, bringing hope.

"I got to a certain point where what's going to change, you know, deep depression just the letdowns that I've, you know, given everybody throughout the whole time. All of a sudden there she was. And she came to the hospital to basically rescue me and save my life," Barnett described.

Hope Street of Siouxland's second property, "Prosperity House," shelters men who are making progress in the program.

"They are doing all the right things, going into their meetings, going to work being able to pay, you know, their financial obligations," said Sara Johnson, Executive Director of Hope Street of Siouxland. "Being able to drive."

Right now Hope Street is full with 16 individuals in both their houses.

"I had somewhere to go and somewhere safe," said Barnett. "I had someone to help me do the next right thing when I'm supposed to be doing."

Last year, Hope Street took some of the men on a retreat to Montana with the funds received from the Siouxland Sleepout.

"We were able to utilize those funds to do something really great and life-changing. Some of these guys have never been to the Black Hills or you know, seen mountains, and I think it was a little bit different that they got to connect with people all across the states," Johnson added.

Each person who walks through the doors gets a personalized plan to get them back on track and get a second chance at life.

"We don't do a cookie-cutter approach. And so, when we work with each individual, excuse me, each individual person, we really look at what are their highest needs right at the moment," said Johnson.

Barnett said he got help going to doctor's visits, keeping track of medications, staying positive while on the road to recovery and learning patience.

"They've really taught me how to be patient because that's how I lost control every other time, so I wanted everything back like right now," Barnett said.

He's thankful for Hope Street and the impact it made and continues to make on his life.

"There are people out there to do care and help you fight," Barnett said.

PREVIOUS: The Warming Shelter to participate in the Siouxland Sleepout for the first time

This year they want to do another retreat to a new part of the country for another group of men in the facility.

The 18th annual Siouxland Sleepout is Friday, November 4th at Cone Park.

There will be a shelter-making contest, a cook-off and live music.

Click here to register for the Siouxland Sleepout.

RELATED: SafePlace using funds from Siouxland Sleepout as flexible funding for homeless