Living Independently: Jasmine’s Story

When asked to identify the greatest challenge facing young people growing up in Santa Fe, Jasmine, age 21, is quick to point to the high cost of living.

“Getting out on your own is tough,” emphasizes Jasmine, who left home, and a difficult childhood, at 14. Since then, she’s worked hard at a variety of jobs, obtained a GED, married, had a child, divorced, and completed several college courses.

“I’ve always been resourceful,” says Jasmine, who first found out about YSFS’s Transitional Living Program (TLP) when walking by the Casa Libertad, the program’s modest residential facility, on her way to work at an upscale grocery store. Jasmine applied to the program and was eventually accepted.

Today, she credits the program with encouraging her to think through her long-term goals and enabling her to save the money she needed to secure an apartment for herself and her baby. Jasmine also expresses gratitude for the counseling she received, which helped her cope with the growing responsibilities of being a new mother. Jasmine is now interested in pursuing a degree in psychology herself.

“If I had never come across the program, I might have been more discouraged about moving forward with my life,” she says. “It’s nice to know there are people who care. Now, I just want to give my daughter a good life and some of the things I didn’t have.”