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Are you or a friend coping with a family conflict like separated, divorced, drug addicted, abused or abusive parents?
family
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Are you or a friend coping with a problem friendship, boyfriend, girlfriend, authority figure, cult or gang?
relationships
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Are you or a friend coping with poor self-esteem, stress, anxiety, loneliness, grief, anger or depression?
feelings
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Are you or a friend coping with depression or thoughts of suicide?
suicide
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Are you or a friend coping with a lack of basic needs like food, clothing, housing, employment, or trouble at school?
basic needs
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Are you or a friend coping with prejudice, neglect, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, survival sex, prostitution, domestic violence or crime?
abuse
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Are you or a friend coping with a physical disability, sexually transmitted disease (STD), HIV/AIDS, self-harm, a psychiatric or eating disorder?
health
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Are you or a friend coping with questions about sexuality, sexual hygiene, a pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease (STD) or HIV/AIDS?
sex
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Are you or a friend coping with tobacco, alcohol, street drugs or prescription drugs?
drugs & alcohol
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Are you or a friend coping with thoughts of leaving home, running away or are you already homeless?
running away
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It's free. It's 24/7. It's for you.
How will I support myself?
There are a lot of questions to ask yourself before deciding to leave home like "How will I support myself". And there are a lot of myths about how best to keep yourself safe, clothed and fed.
What is a runaway?
Should I run away?
How will I support myself?
How do I get help?
How can Nineline help me?
meet a Covenant House kid
visit our forum on running
download info on running (pdf)
abuse information for caregivers
Without help for your family, you are probably right. Kids who return home to families who have not dealt with the issues that lead to running away often run away again and stay away longer. But there are places where families can find help.
"One friend already kicked me out. No one's parents will let me stay long. My relatives don't want to get involved. They don't want to get my parents angry at them. "
You might be right about both friends and relatives. Many kids find themselves moving from couch to couch to couch. This is not a long-term solution. But it's worth a try temporarily. Even if you can't stay with anyone for long, at least you'll be safe while you're getting some other help.
"I can get an apartment and a job. I'm old enough to live on my own. "
Landlords won't rent to underage kids. And it will be difficult to pay rent if you are working at a minimum wage job and need to buy food and clothes, too.
"I could probably do this. Sometimes, I used to steal candy bars when I was a kid. I mean I don't like the idea, but I have to eat. I'll pick big stores and rich people so they won't really miss the money. "
No matter what you stole, you'd still be victimizing someone else. Also, the risks of getting caught are high, and the penalty is not worth it.
"I know I can make a lot of money this way. I could just do it until I save some money. Then I'd stop. I mean, I wouldn't DO drugs. It's not hard work. "
Though you might think the money is good, selling drugs is illegal and highly dangerous. Getting arrested is only part of it.
"A guy at school once told me that you can make some quick easy money. He said if you get drunk or high, you don't mind so much. And sometimes you can get a place to stay for the night, dinner and clothes and things. It might not be so bad. I'd just do it for a little while until I could save some money. I wouldn't get hooked on drugs or anything - I'm not that kind. I'd have to he careful about AIDS - well, I can handle that. "
No one can really handle this life. About 300,000 kids are involved in prostitution in the United States. It might seem fine at first, but these kids will tell you how awful it is. They don't feel good about what they are doing.
"I don't belong in a shelter. I've heard about them. I don't want to live with all those strangers. They'll probably make me go to counseling. I don't need that kind of help. "
Many young people just like you find help in shelters, which are located all around the country. It is difficult to go to a new place with new people, but it's far better than the street. There are people in the shelters who would take care of you and respect you and help you figure out what to do next. They would provide food, clothing, medical care, family counseling, and other kinds of help. Counselors can help you work through problems and deal with your parents.