17 year old trans kid looking to run away

[Guest]

ive been trying to get into the live chat, but it seems that you guys are full ATM.
im 17 years old, gender nonconforming. i am also a dropout and dont have a drivers license or learners permit. i have two options of where to live - either with my mentally abusive and transphobic mom, or my neglectful and alcoholic father. ive been living in these conditions for years, i called defax once in 2015 and was sent to a behavioral center, and that was it. they did nothing else and didnt take me seriously because my mom was mentally abusive instead of physically.
my mom is fine with me becoming an independent - my boyfriend from california (i live in georgia) is supposed to be moving down here to take me out of the house in a month and a half, but i dont think i can make it that long. im just looking to temporarily get out of the house until he can pick me up. i have enough money to get to a shelter by bus. so here are some questions i have -
- can my nonlegal guardian (family members) file a runaway report to the police ? (i know this belongs in legal but its the only thing in the post so i put it here) i dont think my mom would file a report, but other family members might try to.
- how long to homeless shelters usually let you stay ? i dont want to be out on the streets if i can help it.
- as a very tiny and physically frail LGBT kid, would i be safe in a shelter ? i have anxiety and paranoia and i am really worried about being targeted. some reassurances would be nice about this.
- would i be accepted if i brought some personal belongings ? (my laptop, my ukulele, and some clothes)
thank you for your time, i hope to get a reply soon. : ))

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out, it takes a lot of courage to ask for help. We apologize that our chat service was full when you attempted to contact us, but we’re so glad you took the time to write down your concerns in the forum. It sounds like you’re dealing with a really rough situation at home, without anyone who sees your worth or values you as a human being. No one deserves to be abused, mentally or physically. You deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.

To address your questions:

• Only your legal guardian can file a runaway report with the police. Other family members may attempt to alert the authorities, but they cannot actually file a report.
• It depends on the shelter. Some do have limits on how long you can stay. Others may provide something like temporary housing where the duration of your stay can be longer and others will only let you stay for a day or two. We here at NRS can absolutely help you find a shelter that is right for you. See our contact info below.
• Shelters should be doing everything in their power to assure the well-being and safety of all youths staying with them, but with so many different people accessing their services it’s hard to guarantee that every shelter it going to be the same respect for LGBT youth. There are certain shelters around that provide specific support services for LGBT youth alone, making it a safe environment for them to be. That can definitely be addressed when reaching out to shelters, which is something we would be happy to do on a conference call with you on the other line.
• Some shelters (but not all) can provide locker space that is locked with a key they give to you. You can store any personal belongings there. Again, that can absolutely be addressed when contacting shelters.

We want to be able to provide you as much support as possible. If you’re able, please consider reaching out to us by phone at 1-800-RUNAWAY so that we can further discuss your options and reach out to possible shelters that could help resolve some of your concerns. Please try us back on chat if you’re unable to give as call. We’re here to listen and here to help.

Thank you again for reaching out. We wish you the best of luck moving forward.

NRS