In October 2023, Jane escaped an unsafe living environment, in which she spent months couch surfing, staying in hotels, and renting Airbnbs— facing uncertainty each day.

Experiencing homelessness as a youth has been a difficult experience for Jane, but a housing navigator at Youth Empowered Society (YES) supported Jane as she was looking for shelter – helping her connect with local organizations and find critical resources. 

Jane says she is “lucky” to be a resident at the NEST Youth Shelter because they only provide shelter for a select number of unhoused youth ages 18-24. This intimate environment doesn’t feel like a shelter to Jane, it feels like a shared home and a safe space.

Though Jane has had a positive experience at the NEST, we are thrilled to report that Jane recently received a housing offer through the Coordinated Access System and is waiting to move in! “It makes me feel hopeful because I have something to look forward to”. Once Jane exits homelessness and moves into housing, she will pursue a college degree to become a librarian and continue therapy so that she can “establish her life”.