Homeless and Runaway Youth: What Families and Helpers Need to Know

By Jackie Luciani

Youth homelessness is often hidden. Many young people who are without stable housing are not sleeping on sidewalks or in places where adults can easily see them. They may be staying temporarily with friends, moving from place to place, sleeping in unsafe situations, or leaving home because of conflict, fear, abuse, rejection, or feeling like they have nowhere else to turn.

For families, schools, crisis counselors, and community members, it is important to understand both the emotional needs of a young person in crisis and the basic legal information that may affect what happens next.

In New York State, a young person generally must be 18 years old to legally leave home without a parent or guardian being able to report them as a runaway or seek their return. If a youth under 18 leaves home without permission, the situation should be taken seriously and handled as a safety concern, not simply as “bad behavior.” The first priority is to find out whether the young person is safe, where they are, who they are with, and whether they need emergency help.

Parents also do not need to wait 24 hours to report a child missing. New York State’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse states that there is no waiting period to make a missing person report, and families should call police immediately when they are concerned someone is missing. Families should be prepared to provide the child’s name, date of birth, physical description, a current photo, and what the child was wearing when last seen.

Another important point is that in New York State, parents are generally financially responsible for supporting their children until age 21. New York child support guidance explains that both parents are required to support their child until the child is 21 years old, although certain exceptions may apply, such as emancipation or disability-related support rules.

When a child is repeatedly running away, skipping school, engaging in unsafe behavior, or refusing reasonable supervision, families may hear about a PINS petition. PINS stands for Person In Need of Supervision. A PINS petition is a request for Family Court involvement when a child under 18 is engaging in what are often called “status offenses,” meaning behaviors that are only considered an issue because the person is a minor, such as running away or truancy. Family Legal Care describes a PINS petition as a written request asking Family Court to become involved after other efforts to address the behavior have not worked.

In Nassau County, PINS diversion services are designed to help families before court involvement becomes necessary. These services may support families dealing with concerns such as runaway behavior, truancy, family conflict, mental health needs, substance use concerns, or other challenges. The goal is often to stabilize the situation, connect the family with services, and avoid unnecessary out-of-home placement whenever possible.

When handling a runaway call, the counselor's role is to stay calm, listen, assess safety, and avoid judgment. A young person who has run away may be scared, defensive, embarrassed, or unsure whom they can trust. The conversation should begin with basic safety questions: “Are you safe right now?” “Are you alone?” “Do you have a safe place to sleep tonight?” “Are you hurt?” “Is anyone threatening you?” “Are you thinking about harming yourself?” If there is immediate danger, abuse, exploitation, trafficking concern, medical danger, or suicidal risk, emergency services should be contacted.

If the youth is not in immediate danger, the next step is to help them slow down and think through options. A crisis worker can ask what led them to leave, whether there is a safe adult they trust, whether returning home is safe, and what they need most urgently: shelter, food, transportation, medical care, emotional support, or help communicating with a parent or guardian. The goal is not to shame the youth into returning home, but to help them move toward the safest possible next step.

A key referral for runaway and homeless youth is the National Runaway Safeline. Through its 24/7 hotline, 1-800-RUNAWAY / 1-800-786-2929, and online services at 1800RUNAWAY.org, the National Runaway Safeline provides crisis support, listening, help creating a plan, and referrals to local resources. Its services are available to youth in crisis, youth at risk of running away, families, and concerned adults.

When referring a youth to housing, it is important to be specific and practical. A helper can say: “I want to help you find a safe place tonight. The National Runaway Safeline can help identify local shelters and youth-serving resources near you. We can also talk through whether there is a safe family member, friend’s parent, school counselor, caseworker, or local youth program that can help right now.” If the youth is under 18, housing options may depend on local laws, parental notification requirements, safety concerns, and available youth shelter programs. When abuse or neglect is involved, child protective services or emergency services may need to be contacted.

Most importantly, youth homelessness should be understood as a crisis of safety, connection, and support. Young people do not usually leave stable, safe homes for no reason. Running away may be connected to family conflict, untreated mental health needs, bullying, rejection, trauma, abuse, substance use in the home, poverty, or feeling unheard. A compassionate response can help a young person feel less alone and more willing to accept help.

For parents, the message is also important: act quickly, stay calm, and seek help. You do not have to wait 24 hours to report a missing child. You can contact police, reach out to known friends or relatives, contact the child’s school or trusted adults, and call the National Runaway Safeline for guidance. For ongoing family conflict or repeated runaway behavior, families in Nassau County may also explore PINS diversion services through the appropriate local agencies.

Homeless and runaway youth need more than consequences. They need safety, stability, and adults who can respond with urgency and compassion. Knowing the law, knowing the resources, and knowing how to listen can make a life-changing difference.

References

Family Legal Care. The Persons in Need of Supervision PINS process.

National Runaway Safeline. 1-800-RUNAWAY: 24/7 youth support and resources.

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Missing Persons Clearinghouse resources.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Important information about child support services.

Nassau County PINS Diversion Program / Hispanic Counseling Center. PINS Diversion Program.