I have read many articles today about college students  due to the recession moving back home because they cannot find a job. This current NYT article, gives the grim picture of many of the youth today that are not lucky enough to have a home to live in or move back to. These are the homeless youth that are the future of our nation and as adults will end up in the system if we do not do something about it. They learn how to live on the street and survive, to young to get a hotel room, sign a lease and in many cases get a job, they are not kids and they are not adults.
Federal studies and experts in the field have estimated that at least 1.6 million juveniles run away or are thrown out of their homes annually. But most of those return home within a week, and the government does not conduct a comprehensive or current count.
Some of them have a more stable life on the streets than the homes they have run. Many are never entered into the the federal database called the National Crime Information Center, or N.C.I.C., which among other things tracks missing people. If they are never entered into the national data base then only local authorities know to look for them.
Sadly, my son ran away more than once and it was only through the efforts of his father and I that he was located. They know how to disappear and if they are not picked up for breaking the law they can disappear forever into a very scary lifestyle.
Read more about this tragedy and hear some of their stories:
Running in the shadows http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/us/26runaway.html
Video – When No One is Looking More Troubled Families More Runaways
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Dear Stacy,
Please, please do not run away. It does sound as if your home situation is very difficult, but running away will only make things worse. Your mother WILL be heartbroken and worried–I know, because I was both times my son ran away. Jobs are difficult to find right now, because as you know, the economy is very bad. It will be even harder to find a job when you are dirty and tired and hungry because you have no place to live. Please at least stick it out at home until you graduate–then you will have a chance to find a job and maybe move out on your own. Do not think you are a burden to your mom–she loves you, and if you run away, THAT will be a burden. Please post here again if you need more help or advice.
I am a 17 year old teenager and i know one will read this and thats why i’m writting it.
I have thought about running away many times in my life. To most people who know me this would be a shock. Any one you ask will say i’m smart, even if my grades are bad. I never misbehave and try to stay out of trouble. I do argue with my mom and my grandma but thats to be expected. To people who know me theres nothing wrong with me, but these people don’t really know me.
The first time i thought about running away i was 7. My dad was sexually, mental, and pyshcailly (forgive me for misspelled words) abusive to all 3 of his children. I was still 7 when i tried to runway. I never made it out the door, the dog woke my dad up. When i was 10 I tried again and had the same result.
My brother, that is now 19, dealt with everything by hiding in his room and studying. He brought home straight As. He was the smart one as far as my dad was concerned. My other brother, whos is now 21, was an A B student and a gifted athlete. He was everyones golden boy. Or thats what i believed. I was the outcast. My dad saw me as stupid ans worthless.
My dad is now in jail. We were moved out of his house when i was 13 and moved in wiht our mom. It was then that some things became clear. The golden boy of the family could of left us at any time while we lived wiht our dad. He had plenty of friends, but he stayed for me and my brother.
As we lived with our mom and the years passed i had to wory about money for the first time. My mom was already struggling when the economy took a dive. Things didn’t become easier when we learned that one of my brothers was going to be a father. I now have a brother who is a college dropout and another that is a high school drop out. One has a job and the other does not. I also do not have a job, and i am sturggling through high school. My mom hours are being cut.
I don’t know what to do. My mom will never kick her kids out, she has actually been known to let some friends who have been kicked out their home stay for a night or two. I am a burden to my mom and my family, and so once again i find myself thinking of runing away, thought the reasons r very different.
I am tired of living off those around me, i want to feel like i’ve earned everything they have given me. But in a small town and small state such as mine jobs are hard to come by.
I have thought is through yet but everyday I find myself thinking about packing a bag and hitting the road.
And when i think about i wonder if I’m trying to help my family out or running away from something. In truth I hae always wanted to leave this state of mine, it represents nothing good to me.I am my mom’s only daughter, me leaving would probably be harder for her than i realize.
As i said i haven’t thought through all the way but it seems the path i might take
This is a very timely post. My son is still in an RTC, and he has been struggling with the program for the past few months. Recently, he has asked a lot of questions about the state of the economy. So I realized he was probably worried about his future–I asked him about it, and it turns out I was right. Although he doesn’t want to be at the RTC, I am starting to think he is subconsiously sabotaging himself because he knows it is a safe environment. He is worried about the possible consequence of his actions in the “real world,” and is worried about getting a job and taking care of himself. I have assured him that we will not “throw him to the wolves” just because he has graduated from high school or turned 18. It is definitely a scary time to be a young person now, even more so for our kids who have “issues.”