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Nicole Gutierrez

Photographer
Carrie, Keeper of the House
Public Project
Carrie, Keeper of the House
Copyright Nicole Gutierrez 2025
Updated Oct 2025
Carrie Kuhl, 49, began living in a large, abandoned home in Union, Mo. 10 months ago. Once one of the most notorious drug houses in Franklin County, the house shelters a constantly revolving cast of Union’s unhoused population. Carrie tries to remain above the chaos while making small repairs in the house, salvaging for money and keeping a watchful eye on her closest friends.

Carrie’s room is like a therapy clinic with 24/7 on-call hours. Tensions are high in the house, and Carrie is currently facing an eviction. She takes a break from her role as a mediator to take her friend “Snacks” to scrap metal. As a passion, she researches what she believes is human trafficking in the area and visits the city's offices to dig into the records of local deeds.

Carrie describes her 25-year-old boyfriend, Austin, as “conjoined at the hip,” but their relationship is not immune to the stress of their environment.  

“My demons kick his demons’ ass, and his demons kick my demons’ ass,” Carrie said. “We’ve come a long way in the past few months.”

Despite the pressure of her environment, Carrie searches for steadiness in her relationships and living situation.


Edited with Michelle Gutierrez and Margo Wagner
Photography by Margo Wagner at the 77th Missouri Photo Workshop
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