The path to stability wasn’t just long for Kurt Weber, it was paved with physical pain, deep loss, and the constant hum of uncertainty. Today, Kurt is a resident of Harmony Village, but the journey to get there required a level of resilience that would test anyone’s spirit.

Kurt sits attentively in his wheelchair—wistful and sincere, yet unexpectedly lighthearted despite the series of heavy-hearted events he has overcome through the years.

“I’m originally from Pennsylvania,” Kurt says with an expressive brow. “Back in 1986, I came out here to work, since there was nothing but dead-end jobs back there [Pennsylvania].” For decades, Kurt’s life followed a predictable, steady rhythm—until a single moment in 2008 changed his world forever. While working in apartment maintenance, a routine job ended in injury. “I messed up my neck,” Kurt recalls. “I pinched the spinal cord and I’ve been like this [in a wheelchair] ever since.”

The injury took his mobility, but it didn’t take his drive. Despite the physical limitations, Kurt pushed forward. However, the hardest blow was yet to come. In 2017, Kurt lost his wife to a medical crisis that resulted from untreated gallstones and sepsis.

“She wouldn’t go to the doctor,” Kurt says softly. “It’s been rough ever since.”

In the wake of his wife’s passing, Kurt found himself at a crossroads. He was grieving and struggling to navigate a home that was too emotionally painful to live in and too expensive to maintain. Yet, amidst the “nightmare” of his living situation, he stayed focused on his goal of graduating from college.

“I was attending Yuba College at the time,” he says. “I stayed, I finished it, and I graduated in 2021 with an associate’s degree in accounting, but it was a rough ride.”

Following graduation, Kurt’s housing situation became a game of musical chairs. He moved from renting rooms with friends to eventually living in a garage—a setup that was nearly impossible for someone living in a wheelchair. “Everything was in the house, and I had to go through the backyard… it was a nightmare,” he explains.

During this time, his health began to fail. Years of smoking had led to clogged arteries, leaving him with a terrifying ultimatum from his physician. “The doctor told me, ‘You can have a choice: you can have legs or cigarettes. But you’re not gonna have both.'” Kurt chose his health. On May 22, 2024, he quit cold turkey and hasn’t looked back.

Kurt’s search for a permanent home eventually led him to Habitat for Humanity and regular visits to The Life Building Center for support with Hands of Hope. Initially, he was hesitant about moving to Harmony Village, hoping instead for a spot at Prosperity Village to be closer to his doctor and shopping opportunities. But since arriving, his perspective has shifted entirely.

“Overall, I’m really glad I came to Harmony Village,” Kurt says. “Now, I’m doing really good. I’m healthy again.”

The support system at Harmony Village has been life-changing. With the help of Pam, Kurt makes it to his medical appointments regularly. More importantly, he has found a sense of belonging that had been missing for years.

“I have 59 friends—everyone at Harmony Village,” he smiles. “Everybody’s got their own situation. We might be the same, probably not, but it’s all good.”

Kurt’s story is a powerful reminder that while we cannot control the hand we are dealt, we can control how we play the cards. Through sobriety, education, and community, Kurt has finally found his way home.