Achieving Your Goals—and Dreams | Youth Spotlight

Youth Emergency Services (YES) provides safety, security, and stability to young people in need. So that these young people in need receive everything they deserve to achieve their goals.

Caleb came to YES with one major goal—join the Marine Corps. But he needed housing support while awaiting orders.

Struggling to make ends meet, Caleb’s aunt and uncle encouraged him to search for another place to stay. With nowhere to go, Caleb sought refuge in a local shelter where he learned about YES. He reached out to a member of our team immediately.

“I remember feeling on the edge [when first contacting YES],” Caleb recalled. “But, overall, I was just happy to have the chance to stay in a safe space.” Within two days, Caleb was staying at YES’ Emergency Shelter. Within two weeks, he was an official resident of our Transitional Living program (TLP). Through the program, youth receive up to 18 months of residence in independent living-style apartments. There, participants learn to become independent, while also continuing to meet with designated case managers to set and achieve diverse goals.

Having already applied to the Marine Corps before registering with YES, Caleb now had the time and resources to advance toward other goals.

“YES has given me a place to regroup, given me the resources to help me figure things out,” he said.

Currently, Caleb is completing coursework to receive his GED through Omaha Public Schools, while working part-time to build up savings. When he’s not at work or school, the aspiring Marine continues to forge connections with fellow TLP residents and attends weekly YES group sessions, an element of our programming that teaches youth life skills and connects them with community resources through a dialogue setting. Caleb came to YES with one major goal—join the Marine Corps. After three months in TLC, he’s on his way to accomplishing all that and more.

“YES has brought me so much help,” Caleb said. “The biggest things I love about YES are that they offer me a safe place to stay—that’s my number 1—and that they provide those in need with the resources we need.”