Carrie Kuhl, 49, and her boyfriend Austin Bledsoe, 25, talk in the bed they share in Union. The two first met in jail and have been together for a year and a half, but Carrie says they will be together forever. “He walked by me in his little orange jumpsuit and I thought, ‘oh my God I’m going to fuck the shit out of that boy,” Carrie said. “I knew from the second I saw him.” 

A man, who goes by “Snacks” and sometimes stays over, stands on the front porch of Carrie's house on North Oak Street. Carrie has been living in the house for 10 months and asserts that she has permission to live there from the descendant of the owner, who died in late 2024.

Billie Jo Lee and Brianna Cobaugh talk to Carrie in her bedroom after she wakes up. Billie and Brianna learned that morning that they were being evicted, despite Carrie’s belief that she has permission to live there. 

Carrie holds up a shirt to Austin at Agape Thrift Store in Saint Clair, Mo. Carrie said that when she was homeless this thrift store gave her bags of clothes at a steep discount. 

Snacks organizes scrap metal in the back of Austin's truck. Carrie and Austin drive Snacks to collect the metal and take it to the recycling center to exchange for money because he does not have a car or a driver’s license. 

Brianna and Brayden Green sit in the first floor of their house. People come and go from the house at all hours with several occupying each the four bedrooms.

Preston Forbus leans against Austin’s truck after visiting with Carrie at his place in Saint Clair, Mo. Carrie borrowed a hammer and crowbar to make small repairs around her house. While she was visiting with Forbes, she shared her theories about human trafficking in the area. 

Carrie passes Austin a soda cup while stopping for candy and snacks at a gas station in Saint Clair. They often stop at gas stations for food and cigarettes. At the house, they have a mini fridge and air fryer in their room. The kitchen does not have a refrigerator or oven. 

A collage is displayed in Carrie's room. “I had this place decorated so cute,” Carrie said. Carrie often feels like the other people living in the house do not take care of it, and she says her things frequently go missing. 

From left, Randy Crafton, Brianna and Snacks visit Austin and Carrie in their room. Carrie spends most of her time in her room but is rarely alone. 

Carrie checks the mail while cuddling with Austin. Carrie says in addition to being Austin's girlfriend, she is also like his counselor and parole officer and trying to keep him out of trouble. “There is no reason why this beautiful specimen of a man should be locked up,” Carrie said. 

Carrie and Austin hold each other after an argument while Snacks looks for scrap metal. Carrie admits that their relationship is not perfect, but they are working on communicating better.