Shelly Takes Charge of Her Own Destiny
After “Shelly’s” Mom kicked her out of the house, she lived in her car or with friends for several months. She needed food, clothes and hygiene products. Slowly, Shelly came to realize that she needed to take the initiative to change her life. She visited the YES Street Outreach Drop-In Center, and asked the staff to help her get reinstated into a program with Job Corps that she had dropped. She completed the Job Corps business program and moved back in with her mother. She went through several months of being employed then quitting her jobs. She was unemployed for months at a time. She also found and lost several boyfriends who were unemployable because of drug abuse. She then met a clean and sober young man. After only three weeks, they decided to get married.
His name was “Tristan.” Like many street youth, his family was unstable. He experienced abuse and neglect, and he used a variety of substances. After graduating from high school, he became a regular at the Street Outreach Drop-in Center. Street Outreach workers encouraged him to cut back on drugs. He did cut back and he was able to get a job. Tristan met Shelly and within three weeks they were engaged.
Street Outreach staff strongly opposed marriage between the two. At that time Shelly was 19 and Tristan 18. Against everyone’s advice, they were married. Despite their reservations, Street Outreach workers continued to provide emotional support for the couple. During the first six months of marriage, Shelly and Tristan imposed on the hospitality of friends, living from place to place. They began to fight, and Tristan returned to his earlier drug habit. Tristan found but could not keep several jobs.
Finally, because of her Job Corps training, Shelly was able to get a job. She worked as a telemarketer and was promoted to a supervisory position. The couple now lives in an apartment. They own a car and are able to hold steady employment.