No one wants to look at it but it is a growing problem. Teenagers are running away from home and living on the streets. The life they face is not a pretty one. Their futures out there on the streets do not look very promising. There are many reasons that these kids are living on the streets. Some of the reasons are that they got kicked out of the house; there may be sexual abuse at home, violence at home (against a loved one or against themselves), verbal abuse, neglect and many others. Each kid’s reason is different but just as important as the next one’s.
There are a lot of problems on the streets that these kids face. To better understand life for these kids, picture being thrown in a jungle and having to survive anyway you can. They are running the risk of malnutrition, HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, robbery and sexual assault. HIV can run 2 to 10 times higher for runaways than for other adolescents. To survive runaways will do many things ranging from panhandling to prostitution. Some even turn to pornographic movies.
“Survival Sex” is a tactic used by runaways to survive. This is where they will exchange sex for a meal, protection, and a place to stay or for drugs. Runaways are prime targets to a variety of predators. These kids often meet tragic consequences.
There are many programs out there that help runaways. They offer things like food, shelter, counseling and even going home if that is an option the teen wants to do. Outreach program workers will go out onto the streets to try and help these kids.
According to the National Runaway Switchboard, every day between 1.3 and 2.8 million runaways and homeless youth live on the streets of America. Also 1 out every 7 children will run away from home before the age of 18.
The National Runaway Switchboard has a program called the Home Free Program for runaways who are ready to go home. The Home Free Program is done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines. The program has helped more than 10,000 youth be reunited with their families for free since the programs inception.
They don’t just give these kids a bus ticket home. They help with a conference call between the teen and their parent. They give they families’ resources in their community to help rebuild the relationship. National Runaway Switchboard will call to make sure the teen has made it home safely and is doing alright at home.
Covenant House California has helped more than 145,000 homeless youth. The outreach program offer food, shelter, and referrals. Covenant House California offers a crisis shelter that meets all the needs of these youth. Other services that Covenant House California offer are transitional living, supportive apartment program, counseling, HIV/AIDS services and spiritual ministry.
These are just a couple of places that help runaways. There are a lot of places out there offering a variety of services. Runaways don’t have to live on the streets even if they don’t want to go home for what ever their reason is. Many do stay on the streets because they are afraid to trust anymore. This fear to trust either started at home or started due to what has happened to them since they left home.
These programs are not just for runaways to call. Parents can contact these places for help with dealing with the strained relationship with their teen. If you feel your teen may be at risk contact a hotline now. Don’t wait until your teen has runaway before trying to repair the distance between you.
Covenant House California:
Youth in Crisis Hotline: 1-800-999-9999
website: http://www.covdove.org
Focus Adolescent Services:
Call for help for your teen 1-410-341-4216
website: http://www.focusas.com/Runaways.html
National Runaway Switchboard:
Crisis Line: 1-800-Runaway
website: http://www.nrscrisisline.org/
