Lincoln opened SquareOne, a youth crisis center a decade in the making

Lincoln opened SquareOne, a youth and family crisis center at 17th and N streets, the Lincoln Journal Star reported on October 20, 2026. The center has six short-term respite beds. Lancaster County Board Chair Christa Yoakum said the opening was nearly a decade in the making.

Young people can stay no more than seven days, and the goal is 24 hours or less, said Sara Hoyle, director of Lancaster County Human Services. The intent is to steady someone until a move to a shelter or, if it can be arranged, a home. Patrick Kriefels, regional administrator for Region 5 Systems, said families across the 16 counties in that region have too often had two bad choices: long hours in an emergency room, or a call for help that pulls in the justice system. The rooms open onto a common space with table tennis, colors and art chosen with a youth advisory council, and windows. High school senior Mariana Ponce, who chairs the Lancaster County Youth Advisory Council, spoke at the opening and said young people need to be heard when they reach a crisis, not judged for it.