Updated September 2026... Runaway Youth: Statistics, Resources & Hope

Why I wrote this

I know something about running away.
In 1976, I was a teenager in California, hitchhiking my way back to Illinois. I was fortunate enough to be picked up by a truck driver who gave me a chance and eventually gave me a job. That one encounter changed the direction of my life.
I was one of the lucky ones.
Not every young person who runs away finds a truck driver who offers them a job, a safe place, or a second chance. Some find themselves in situations that are far more dangerous than the one they left.
I originally wrote this article because I wanted to help people understand what can happen when a young person leaves home. The statistics and resources in the original article were written many years ago, so I have updated this information to reflect what we know today.
My hope is simple: if this information helps even one young person, parent, teacher, or concerned adult recognize a problem a little sooner, then it is worth sharing.

What does "running away" really mean?

When most people hear the words runaway youth, they may picture a teenager sleeping under a bridge or walking down a highway with a backpack.
That certainly happens.
But youth homelessness is often much less visible.
A young person may stay with friends for a few nights, move from one relative's house to another, sleep in a car, stay in an unsafe relationship because there is nowhere else to go, or simply move from place to place without a safe and stable home.
Researchers sometimes describe these situations as hidden homelessness because the young person may not appear homeless to someone looking from the outside.
National research from Chapin Hall found that, over a 12-month period, about 1 in 30 adolescents ages 13–17 and 1 in 10 young adults ages 18–25 experienced some form of homelessness. The study included experiences such as running away, being asked to leave home, and couch surfing—not just sleeping on the street.
Those numbers are not a prediction of what will happen to any particular young person. But they remind us that this is a much larger issue than many people realize.

Why do young people run away?

There isn't one answer.
Every young person has a story, and sometimes that story is complicated.
Family conflict, abuse, neglect, poverty, instability, problems at school, rejection, substance use, mental-health struggles, or simply feeling that nobody listens can all play a role.
Sometimes a young person is trying to escape something.
Sometimes they are looking for something they believe they cannot find at home—acceptance, independence, love, safety, or a place where they feel like they belong.
And sometimes they simply make a decision without understanding what the consequences might be.
That last part is important.
A teenager may think:
"Anything has to be better than this."
I understand that thinking because I was there.
But leaving a bad situation does not automatically lead to a safe situation.

The danger of the road

When a young person leaves home without a safe plan, they become vulnerable.
They may not have money, transportation, food, a safe place to sleep, identification, or anyone they can trust.
That can make them vulnerable to people who recognize their situation and take advantage of it.
A young person who is hungry, frightened, lonely, or desperate may accept help from someone who does not have good intentions.
That is why I believe one of the most important messages we can give a runaway or homeless young person is:
You don't have to figure everything out by yourself.
There are people who will listen without judging you and help you consider safer options.

If you are a young person thinking about running away

If you are thinking about leaving home, please try to talk to a safe adult before you leave, if doing so will not put you in greater danger.
That might be a relative, teacher, counselor, coach, pastor, youth worker, doctor, or another adult you trust.
You don't have to explain everything perfectly.
You can simply say:
"I don't feel safe at home and I don't know what to do."
That is enough to start a conversation.
If home is unsafe because someone is hurting you or threatening you, getting help is even more important. You deserve to be safe.
And if you have already left home, you are not beyond help.

If you are a parent or concerned adult

If you suspect a young person is thinking about running away, listening may be more important than lecturing.
You don't have to agree with everything they say.
You don't have to approve of every decision they've made.
But if you want them to trust you, they need to know that they can tell you the truth without immediately being condemned.
The National Runaway Safeline recommends listening, validating a young person's point of view, maintaining communication, and working together on solutions. It also provides assistance to parents and guardians whose child has already run away.
If a young person has already left, consider contacting the National Runaway Safeline for help determining what to do next. They can help families develop a plan and connect them with appropriate resources.

Current Resources

National Runaway Safeline

1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)
The National Runaway Safeline provides free, confidential support for young people and families dealing with runaway, homelessness, and crisis situations.
Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone, text, live chat, and email. They also maintain a searchable database of youth resources around the country.
National Runaway Safeline — 1800RUNAWAY.org

National Runaway Safeline — Concerned Adults

Parents, guardians, and other concerned adults can find information about what to do if a young person is considering running away or has already left home.
Help for Parents & Guardians

National Center for Homeless Education

Young people experiencing homelessness may have rights and protections related to their education. The National Center for Homeless Education provides information about the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, including resources specifically for unaccompanied youth.
National Center for Homeless Education

If you are in immediate danger

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact 911 or your local emergency services.
If you are experiencing a mental-health or suicide crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

One More Thing I Learned

Looking back at my own life, I can see things I couldn't see when I was a teenager.
I thought I had to survive on my own.
I thought I had to protect myself.
I thought I had to figure everything out.
I was wrong.
There were people along the way who helped me—even when they probably had no idea how much their kindness would eventually mean to me.
The truck driver who picked me up in California was one of those people.
He didn't know he was changing my life.
He was simply helping a kid who needed a chance.
Decades later, I am still in trucking.
In fact, I'm still fortunate enough to work with some of the same customers I met along the way.
And somewhere in the middle of all those years, I began to understand something else:
My life wasn't just about surviving.
It was about what I could do with the life I had been given.

Why I Wrote Memoirs of a Runaway

My experiences eventually led me to write Memoirs of a Runaway.
I didn't write the book because I believe my life was more difficult than everyone else's.
I wrote it because I know there are people who have felt the same loneliness, fear, anger, confusion, and desperation that I felt.
And I know that sometimes a person doesn't need someone to tell them what they did wrong.
Sometimes they need someone to tell them:
"I understand. I've been there. And there is still hope."
My faith has become an important part of that hope.
I believe God was working in my life long before I understood what He was doing. Looking back, I can see people and circumstances that I once considered coincidences or interruptions that turned out to be important parts of my story.
I don't pretend to have all the answers.
But I do believe this:
Your circumstances today do not have to determine the rest of your life.

It Is Not About "I"

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that life isn't really about "I."
It is about "we."
We need other people.
We need somebody who will listen.
We need somebody who will tell us the truth when we don't want to hear it.
We need somebody who will give us a second chance.
And sometimes, we need to be that person for somebody else.
If you know a young person who is struggling, don't assume someone else will help.
Listen.
Pay attention.
Ask questions.
And if you don't know what to do, ask for help yourself.
You don't have to solve everything.
You just have to take the next right step.
Sometimes that step is simply saying:
"I'm here. Let's figure this out together."
If this article reaches a young person who needs to hear that message, then rewriting it was worth every minute.
There is hope.