CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
YES HOUSING CAMPUS
In our current model, our services are spread throughout Metro Omaha with all programs physically separate from one another. This not only creates the ongoing expense of maintaining and staffing seven different locations (including administration), but also tremendous inefficiencies in the delivery of services. The YES Campus Project will consolidate all current programs into one, centralized location. Youth will be able to receive all housing services, support services, case management, and other resources within one campus. Additionally, YES will be able to safely expand the human trafficking program. YES has secured an existing property (the former Omaha Housing Authority headquarters located at 540 S. 27th Street) which will serve as a campus for all services to be safely and efficiently provided.
Download the full 50 Years of YES campaign booklet here!
Based on data from fiscal year 2022
WHAT TO EXPECT
For our housing programs, YES will INCREASE the number of beds available by 240% (20 to 68 beds), and the number of youth served by 88% (from 68 to 128), meaning an additional 50 youth can have access to safe and affordable housing.
We anticipate all programs growing and project reaching an additional 240 youth across all programs, with only a 2% budget increase.
The Housing Campus will also provide a new revenue stream for YES. With a projected revenue of $100,000 per year generated through Low Income Housing Vouchers, this will ensure YES continues to diversify revenue streams and focus more grant dollars towards programs and staffing.
Street Outreach Center
-
The proposed Campus Project will be attached as a NEW addition to the existing structure, which is scheduled to undergo significant rehabilitation. After project completion, the YES Street Outreach Program will occupy the rehabilitated structure. The Street Outreach Center will house a pantry, walk-in closet and the Community Well-Being Center where youth can access showers, nursing, mentoring, and job readiness services.
Affordable Housing
-
The lack of affordable housing is one of the leading causes of homelessness. This campus will house 40 affordable housing units - 12 2-bedroom units intended for families and 28 one-bedroom units intended for independent transitional housing. These units will be eligible for Low-Income Housing Vouchers through Douglas County Housing Authority. This new model will revolutionize YES’ operations and be a game changer for homeless youth and young adults.
Emergency Shelter
-
In addition to our expanded Street Outreach services and Affordable Housing units, we are growing our Emergency Shelter. In 2020, YES had to turn away 83 youth from our Emergency Shelter due to lack of space. This is unacceptable. By making more beds available, we will reduce the number of street-dependent youth. We will also keep at least one bed open for our Safe Place program. This 24/7 Emergency Hotline number is for youth in crisis with nowhere else to go.
EXPANDED PROGRAMS
Mental Health
The proposed campus will provide YES the opportunity to expand our mental health program by providing a mental health program and practitioner on site, available to staff and youth 24/7.
Mental Health Program - Youth will be assessed within 24 hours of admission and will have the opportunity to begin mental health treatment. Youth will also have access to group and individual therapy available at no cost.
Mental Health Practioner - Will assist in the admission of youth as well as discharging to safe housing or appropriate treatment options.
Human Trafficking
YES intends to expand its Human Trafficking Program. Youth recovering from trafficking may find it challenging to reenter the community.
YES will provide safe and secure housing options for young people who have experienced trafficking in order to promote healing in a safe place.
The expansion of the YES trafficking program will provide youth the opportunity to participate in trauma informed programming
identify individual and community support to assist in successfully reentering into their community.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
As YES reflects back on it’s 50 years of leadership with homeless and near-homeless youth, this campus project is an integral part of our future - setting us up for another 50 years of essential services for youth in crisis. We are grateful for the unique partnership with our developer partners, Burlington Capital. Burlington Capital helped YES secure Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which enables us to accept housing vouchers through Douglas County Housing Authority. These vouchers, in addition to being a strong outreach strategy, provides YES with an additional revenue stream, aiding us in our goal of revenue diversity and sustainability.
The development of this site will greatly improve the safety and beautification of the St. Mary’s corridor, which has not seen large-scale investment since the 1970s. In fact, the Omaha Housing Authority building that will be renovated has been sitting empty for seven years. Through construction we will be building new sidewalks, updating sewer lines, provide safe green space for our youth and the community to gather, and see increased traffic to area businesses. The St. Mary’s corridor is already a hub of nonprofits, with YES joining Together Inc, InCommon, and Completely Kids.
And while we know that youth experiencing homelessness come from every school district in the Omaha metro, the street-dependent youth we see are predominantly living in North, South, and Downtown Omaha. This centralized location emphasizes our commitment to meeting youth where they’re at, both geographically and emotionally.
KALISHA REED
Executive Director
-
Kalisha joined the YES team in 2021, after serving as the executive director of Right Turn. During her time there, she managed a budget of nearly $2 million, developed & implemented a strategic plan to increase monthly referrals by 10%. She actively sought partnerships outside of Omaha/Lincoln to strengthen the organization’s mission/vision. She also implemented & launched the program’s first cloud-based data management & case documentation system. Prior to that, she served for 5 years with Children’s Respite Care Center, first as the behavior Health Clinical manager/therapist & then as the director of therapy operations implementing the organization's first eve school base mental health program increasing mental health access to students in the Metro Area. She also worked as a therapist & counselor with CHI Health, Heartland Family Service, Boys Town, & Girls, Inc. She holds two Master’s degrees – one in Organizational Performance & the other in Clinical Counseling – from Bellevue University, where she has been an adjunct instructor since 2018. She is an advisor & board member of the Pre-Law Program at the College of Saint Mary & a mental health community liaison for the South Omaha Community Care Council.
HOUSING CAMPUS PROJECT TEAM
LYNECE DAIKER
Board of Directors - Housing Campus Lead
-
Lynece serves as Kent Circle Investments’ Omaha Project Coordinator & oversees assets and community relation’s efforts out of the Omaha office. She has a deep passion for revitalizing neighborhoods, planning, & community building. A South Dakota native, she attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls. She has lived & spent the past 25 years of her career in Omaha. She began working in commercial real estate at Lund Company. She later moved on to Oakview Construction, where her day-to-day hands-on education started in commercial construction for a national company. She has worked closely with professional estimators, project managers, field superintendents, & assisted national retail & office users in their site selection & facilitated the transaction. Previously, she was an owner’s representative for M/M Development’s lofts, a ground-up urban condominium project. She is a past Board Member of Adoption Links Worldwide & the Chamber of Commerce Capacity Building Task Force. She is currently a Board Member at YES, The Farman Hill Business District & at Omaha Street School.
ANDY SALADINO
Director of Development
-
Andy 's main focuses at YES are core development functions, messaging and storytelling, cultivation and stewardship of major donors, and long-term sustainability and stability. He brings over a decade of nonprofit experience to the role & has successfully led organizations & teams to develop new & innovative fundraising strategies, streamline organizational mission and impact, developed comprehensive & compelling organizational voice and storytelling functions, & served in leadership positions at Amplify Arts, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the American Red Cross, & TADA! Youth Theatre in New York City. Originally from Boston, he received his BA in Theatre Education from the University of New Hampshire. He was a member of Class 11 of Nonprofit Association of the Midland’s Nonprofit Executive Institute, participated in the Spring 2019 cohort of TEAM: Building Culture in Nebraska City, was a graduate of National Arts Strategies & UPenn’s Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy, & is a mentor through the Rising Leaders Institute.
GEORGE ACHOLA
Burlington Capital, VP Real Estate
-
With over 20 years of legal experience, George Achola has spent his career bridging the worlds of law, community service, and real estate development. George's passion for justice, innovation, and community upliftment allows him to seamlessly blend legal expertise with business acumen. His role extends beyond "legal issues" as he is a trusted advisor relied upon for his judgment and practical wisdom. George joined Burlington Capital in 2014 as Vice President and General Counsel, Burlington Capital Real Estate, LLC. His strategic vision and oversight have been instrumental in shaping the company's development projects, ranging from senior housing to affordable options for veterans. George's leadership embodies progress, pragmatism, and a genuine concern for the communities he serves. With his skill set and practical approach to problem solving, Burlington Capital can move projects from inception to completion with little interruption or delay.
Beyond the courtroom and boardrooms, George Achola's influence permeates the community. His commitment to social causes and community empowerment is evident through his involvement in a myriad of organizations. George served on the Omaha Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners for approximately two years. He is currently a board member of the Nebraska Investment Finance Agency, Ivy League- Youth Sports, inCOMMON, Education Rights Council, Brain Injury Alliance, The East Omaha Athletic Association, and CUES Fund.
THE GOAL
We’re so grateful to the many supporters of this project so far. They have provided the essential seed funding to get this project off the ground. From private individuals to major foundations to government funding & tax credits, the YES team has been working diligently to secure the necessary funds for this project.
But we still need your help…
We need your help in bringing this campaign to a close. Together we can create a brighter future for youth in crisis in our community. Any size donation helps get us closer to making this essential vision a reality.
There are many ways to show your support for generations to come at the YES Campus. Naming opportunities are available for the Emergency Shelter, Street Outreach Center, Teaching Kitchen, and Community Well-Being Wing, all starting at the $100,000 Founder Level Sponsorship. Signage will be coordinated with the donor upon pledge receipt.
There are also naming opportunities available for our 16 Emergency Shelter units, 28 1-bedroom Independent Living units, and 12 Family Living 2-bedroom units. These individual rooms provide freedom and independence while fostering responsibility – often their very first space of their own – and provide pregnant and parenting young women a safe, secure and private space to raise their children. Rooms will be acknowledged with a plaque outside each room.
Contact Andy Saladino at asaladino@yesomaha.org or (402) 345-7202 to make your pledge today.
Founder - $100,000+
Naming rights for our Emergency Shelter, Street
Outreach Center, Teaching Kitchen, Community
Well-Being Wing, Family Living Wing, Independent
Living Wings, and Recreation & Outdoor Space
start at this level.
VIP Event Invitation
Special hard-hat tour with YES Staff
Special 50th Anniversary Swag
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Visionary- $50,000+
Naming rights available for two-bedroom units
for the first 12 Visionary Sponsors.
VIP Event Invitation
Special hard-hat tour with YES Staff
Special 50th Anniversary Swag
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Supporter - $10,000+
Special 50th Anniversary Swag
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Ally - $5,000+
Special 50th Anniversary Swag
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Champion - $25,000+
Naming Rights available for one-bedroom and Emergency Shelter units for the first 44 Champion Sponsors.
VIP Event Invitation
Special hard-hat tour with YES Staff
Special 50th Anniversary Swag
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Friend - $5,000 - $1,000
Listed in Grand Opening Materials
Online Acknowledgment
Listed in Annual Report
Donor Wall Recognition
Make a Donation.
Be a part of something great and help us make our new Campus Project a reality!
