I'm 16 with nowhere to go

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 and I have No where to go my mom kicked me out and told me if I go on her property shell shoot me what do I do

[ccsmod15]

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. Your safety is always our # 1 concern. 16 means you are a minor, and you have every right to call the police and explain that your mom has kicked you our and threatened harm. Child Help (1-800-422-4453, childhelp.org) is a hotline that can help you better understand neglect, which kicking you out could be considered neglect, how to report, if you want to, and how to stay safe.
We can also look into youth shelters in your area for the night- you can reach us at 1-800-786-2929 or through live chat through this website!

Best of luck,
NRS

[Guest]

What do i do if i dont wanna go home because my mom will shoot me and she kicked me out im on the streets im really hungry idk what to do

[ccsmod6]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you’re really going through a difficult time and we want you to know that we are here for you in any way we can be. If you want to talk more about your situation, we can look up youth shelters in your area as well as talk about other way for you to find a place to stay. If you are interested in doing so, please give us a call at 1-800-786-2929 or chat us at 1800runaway.org.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 16
I've been struggling with my parents, reason being is because I feel so alone in this house I want to leave everytime my mom says you can leave but don't come back. But I have no where to go. I just want to run and never come back here I'm desperate I try talking to them about how I feel, but they don't care how I feel. I just feel so alone with no one to talk to. I live in Illinois so if you can help please respond

[ccsmod15]

It can be difficult to ask for help and we are glad you reached out to us. It sounds like you are going through a really challenging time and feeling very alone. You are not alone and we are here to help. If you have any relatives or other adults in your life that you trust, they may be able to provide support and guidance.

In the state of IL you are a minor until your 18th birthday. There could be consequences for you and others if you choose to leave as a minor. It is helpful to think about you will keep yourself safe regardless of the decision you make. One possible resource is CCBYS (1-877-870-2663). CCBYS is a 24 hour state-wide crisis response system that provides a continuum of services to youth in high risk situations and their families when appropriate. CCBYS agencies perform frontline crisis intervention, which involves immediate assessment of the facts surrounding a crisis situation and efforts to reunify the youth with their family or make arrangements for a temporary safe shelter followed by services for the youth and the family.

Reaching out to a non-emergency police number can be a resource for getting legal advice about leaving home. In addition to being available by chat we operate a 24/7 hotline and are always here to provide additional support and resources (1-800-786-2929). We can also walk you through any of the other resources listed above. It sounds like conversations with your parents have not be helpful in the past. We also operate a conference call feature where we can help moderate a conference call between you and your parents.

You do not deserve to feel alone, and we are here to help. Do not hesitate to reach out.

Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

My dad is abusive and always hurts me. The other day he dragged me down the stairs and threw me outside. I still have bruises on my arms from where he was holding so tight. Three days before this my little sister who is 15 left the house without telling anyone. After he threw me outside I left. I'm at a friends house and I found my sister on the way. I have a place to stay but she doesn't. I also don't want either of us going home I don't feel like its safe. Cps was called on them multiple times but they didn't do much about it. There was like 7 witnesses in the house just watching.

[ccsmod15]

Thank you so much for reaching out to us for help. This sounds like a very painful situation for both you and your sister. You both deserve to feel safe in your own home. You might want to reach out to other friends and family to see if there is anywhere your sister can go if you haven’t already. You can also try texting 44357 and say “SAFE” and your location and it will direct you to the nearest safe place for you to go. You can also go to their website at nationalsafeplace.org. If you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or use our online chat service, we can help you find a shelter or talk through other housing alternatives. We know staying in a shelter can be intimidating, so we can also help you find answers to any questions you might have. We’re sorry to hear that CPS hasn’t been helpful in the past. It might be helpful to find out when previous reports were filed and by who. Getting help from CPS can be challenging, but from what you shared about the abuse you’ve experienced it seems like this is a situation they should take seriously. We are here 24/7 and are ready to help you in any way that we can.

[Guest]

hi ive been going through some mood swings lately and i dont know if its beacuse im 16 and going through puberty but lately i justv wanted to be alone in my room not really speak to anyyone that much just sleep and i know thats not good but i cant help it , all my life i tried to do one thing ,and that is pleasing my mother . when i was in grade 4 i left school to go and memorise my holy book and this was my choice but slowly it beccame difficult and i stared doing this for my mother , my older brother has finnished his memmorization in 3 years and i was taking a bit longer so everyday my mother would say how im getting nowhwere with my life and why cant i be like my brother and i slowly driffted away from her , we use to be so close and now i cant even hug her without it being awkward , dont get me wrong she is a good person but she is also a perfectioness not just in her school work or her cleaning nut in me she want me to be perfect at everything and i cant take it anymore , i got a 88.8% on my papper last term and do you know waht she said , you must do better and yes i agree i could do better but a 16 yr old doesnt want to hear that , they want to hear "son im so proud of you" not once did she really look at me and say that to my face and when i finished my memorization my school had like a type of ceremony where they test you anywhere out of the holy book and you have to read it out of your head , now that wa stressful , so before the thing stared she told me "dont embarrass me and you daddy by making mistakes " and that broke me and it still brakes me uptill now im crying typing this . anyways so i now go to a arabic institute where im learning the language so she wanted to do it too , i didnt really like that idea but she applied anyway , so in class she gets all the questions right and thats because she is a realy clever women , so she expects me to be clever and good in every sinle thig that i do i cant take it . she always tells me and my siblings how in school everyone wanted to be her friend and all the boys wanted her , and i dont have friends nor are the girls chasing after me , so she thinks that life is easy , anyways ... i wasnt feeling myself theese past few days and i was spending most of my time in my room and silent and now she is threatening me to kick me out of the house there is a lot more to this story but i dont have the energy to type it out , i just need someone to be there for me and just listen , you know ?

[ccsmod13]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to NRS!

It sounds like you are going through a difficult time right now. Sometimes reaching out for help or someone to talk to can be the most difficult thing to do, but it shows a sense of maturity that many 16 year-olds may not possess yet. It isn’t easy when those we care most about don’t treat us the way we deserve to be treated or acknowledge that we may face different trials than they do. It sounds like you work very hard at being a good student and when that isn’t recognized it can be challenging. When we feel like we can’t speak to our family about what is troubling us, it may be a good idea to speak to someone who is involved with similar situations such as a school counselor, spiritual leader, or professional. These are just a few options that may benefit you, but ultimately the choice is yours and what you think the most appropriate direction would be.

We are always available here at NRS at 1800runaway.org and 1-800-RUNAWAY.

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

I am a 16 year old girl from brooklyn new york. Me and my dad are constently in and out of fights (both physical and verbal) and my mother lives over sea so theres nothing she can do. One time we got into a very bad fight and i ran away and slept on the trains for 2 days but ended up going back because i had nowhere else to go. He has then threatened numerous times to kick me out and im scared becase i feel like he will. The area i live in is very dangerouse and i dont no what to do. Im in the 10th grade going into 11th where can i go if he was to kick me out

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,
We are glad you reached out to us for help! Home is supposed to be somewhere you feel safe and supported, and from what you mentioned that is not the case with your dad. It is not okay for him to threaten to kick you out and make you feel unsafe. It is really responsible of you to want to come up with a safety plan in case something does happen or you feel like you need to leave.

If your dad kicks you out, the National Safe Place can help connect you with a youth shelter to stay at. All you have to do is text “safe” and your current address to 741741 for the nearest safe place.
Parents have a legal obligation to make sure you have somewhere safe to live, and since your dad is not doing that then you have the right to report it. You can call the national child abuse hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for more information and help filing an abuse report.

Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us at our website 1800runaway.org if you would like to talk more about your situation. We are here 24/7 if you need help.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 15 and I live in Texas my mom got mad at me on Sunday for wanting to give up city league basketball and so she took my phone and my T.V away. Today is Tuesday and she hasn't talked to me since Sunday, my dad came in while I was doing homework 30 minutes ago asking if I stole my mom's ID. I told him no and he didn't believe me. My mom calls me into the kitchen telling me that she will not play my "games" and that if she doesn't get it by tonight she will kick me out or she will put me into foster care and she will not bluff. I'm running out of time and I have no where to go. She then told my dad to take off my door and he did what he was told. I am the youngest and all of my sisters moved out a long time ago and they live either 12 hours away or in a different state. I have school tomorrow and I take the bus but for the best two days she has been making me walk to the bus stop and home from the bus stop. I'm scared and I'm miserable being in this house.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

Both my parents have threatened to kick me out just last night and will definitely kick me out now when they find out what I’ve done. There’s no form of asking for forgiveness since this was my second chance. I’m 16 almost 17 in high school with no job. I want to be able to finish school without worrying I have to drop out. I have no friends or relatives near me to help me out and the ones I have are out of the state. I wish not to report this to cps or the police based on reasons of fear. The closest shelter to me is far away and near dangerous zones for me to commute alone. Originally I had planned to move out at 18 and never return but now my time has been cut short. I keep thinking there’s no difference in just starting now rather than 18 but I’m terrified I’ll end up homeless.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It sounds like you are in a really stressful situation right now since your parents have threatened to kick you out. You mentioned that you are not interested in contacting CPS but if they do make you leave home it can be considered neglect and you do have the right to report it if you wish. If this is something you might be interested in, or something you'd like to learn more about, you can check out childhelp.org. You said that you feel like there is no way that you could ask your parents for forgiveness for whatever happened. It could be a good idea to work with a local family counselor or have a conversation mediated by a school counselor/social worker, church or religous official/member, trusted friend, or family member to help clear the air.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hey I’m 16 and I’m going to be 17 in December. I can’t lie I haven’t been the best child but it also wasn’t all on me. Ever since I could remember my grandma has always verbally abused me especially when she drank. Ever since about 7 I remember being told how she doesn’t want me and how she wished she put me in the system. But anyway recently I got in some trouble and now I only have about 3 months to leave her house but like I have no financial support and I don’t have a way to work so I can’t make the money I need to support myself because she won’t help me anymore and to top it off she’s bipolar so I don’t know if I have 3 months or 3 days she changes her mind so much it makes me paranoid because I never know when I’ll come home and my stuff is just on the curb I just don’t know what to do because I have no type of help getting to work so I can make the money I need to support myself any advice?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, and sharing your story with us. It sounds like you have gone through a lot over the years.
Any type of abuse is never okay and you do not deserve to have to go through that. You can file a report by calling your local police department or by contacting Child Help at- 1800-422-4453. Also if you come home and she does kick you out that could be considered neglect because it is your guaridan’s responsibility to provide you with shelter until you are 18.
If you would like us to look up shelter resources you can give us a call at any time and we can look up shelters for you.
We hope this information will be helpful to you in your situation. If you have any more questions or would like to explore options please give us a call. We are here 24/7 to listen and provide support. We wish you the best of luck!
NRS

[Guest]

hey guys, I am 16 yrs old and my mom has kicked me out of the house, she has not given me any clothes or money. all I am all alone on the streets, I have nothing to eat and to call my relatives. I have been sleeping for 4 days on the public places and I have been beaten and bullied by other people on the streets. I have published this on my friend's computer, he gives me water and a bit of snack to live. however, I have no future plans. the winters are starting and now I am forced to sleep in cold. I have a bit of fever and cold but I can't afford to buy medicines or use public hospitals as i do not have any proof I am a citizen(australia). pls answer back with some solutions. I live Sydney, Australia.

[ccsmod1]

Hey there,

Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing a little bit about what’s been going on, we know that it takes a lot of courage. It sounds like you are in a really scary situation right now and it wasn't right for your mom to force you into a situation like this. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. You may want to check out Kids Helpline by going to https://www.kidshelp.com.au/ they may be more knowledgeable about the laws and resources available to you in Australia.

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I'm 14 I don't live with my mom due to us and my two other sisters living in a hotel and getting kicked out I decided to go live with a friend and today she was basically telling me I have to leave and I have no where to go because my mom is homeless with my little sister and I'm just here alone

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. If you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you listed. So that is always an option if you feel like talking to someone in person about what has been going on or if you just need of a safe place to stay.

You also may use your phone to text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 44357. If there are safe places and shelters nearby, a list of those will be sent to your phone and you may have the option to text back and forth with a trained counselor as well.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi,
I recently got suspended from school and my dad keeps telling me to get out of his house, and to do painful household tasks. My mom is in Virginia for work related things, and I want to call child protective services but I don't want to be separated from my mom. I feel like if I call them, they're going to rip my family apart, which I refuse to happen. If I do call them, do I still get separated from my mom and brother?

[ccsmod15]

We're sorry to hear you're having a tough time at your dad's and at school. Just so you know, your dad doesn't have the legal right to kick you out of the house. That would be considered neglect and you could file an abuse report on him if he kicks you out or continues to threaten you like that.

It's understandable that you'd feel some apprehension at getting Child Protective Services (CPS) involved and that you don't want to be separated from your mom or cause havoc in your family. Just so you know, an abuse report doesn't automatically remove you from the home. It just means that an investigation is started into your family situation. So much depends on what the severity is of whatever is going on. Quite often CPS will try to just see that the situation at home improves, not necessarily that anyone is removed from the home. So no one can know for sure what would happen if you did file an abuse report.

We'd like to explore your situation more with you but would need a few more details from you in order to do so. The best way we can help is if you give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us via the portal on our main page, www.1800runaway.org. Please be safe! We hope to hear from you soon!

[Guest]

Im 15, turning 16 in a few months and my mom seems done with me

My mom isn't like others, we get into spats and she gets upset with me frequently. Today, I thought she'd punch me in the throat, because she said she would. She told me she was thinking about sending me away to my dad, but he's states away and he most likely can't take care of me. Im scared I won't have anywhere to go if she kicks me out. My older siblings have moved out, and I don't know what to do. I'm a straight A student, I do what she asks, but she still gets so angry with me over things other parents don't care about. I'm scared and I don't know what to do. I'm a sophomore in highschool and I want to graduate from the same school, I'm afraid I can't stay with her anymore, or she'll put me out all by myself. I don't have the slightest clue of what to do and that's terrifying.. please help me.

[ccsmod10]

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. If you’re feeling unsafe and need a safe place to go and talk to someone, you may wish to visit The National Safeplace website (www.nationalsafeplace.org). This organization provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for youth in need. You can look up your city and state to see if there are any safe places near you listed. So that is always an option if you feel like talking to someone in person about what has been going on or if you just need of a safe place to stay.

You also may use your phone to text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 44357. If there are safe places and shelters nearby, a list of those will be sent to your phone and you may have the option to text back and forth with a trained counselor as well.

Be safe,

[Guest]

tomorrow is my birthday and i'm finally turning 16, i was looking into emancipation for the longest but i am far from financially stable. my mom hates me and her and her boyfriend want to kick me out because of my sexuality.. i cant just wait it out for 2 years. they're making my life miserable, i just want to finish school, and be able to go to practices and once i turn 18, i want to enlist. they want me out of the house, but arent actually "kicking me out" but they are mmaking my life a living hell. and they're doing it in front of my little siblings too I was looking into foster care but i don't know where to start. i left a bag of my stuff outside because i was planning on running away, but when i went outside, the police were there about to go through my bag! i said it was my summer camp stuff and they went along with it. I know how to do laundry, cook, clean, etc... I just need somewhere to go. i'm at an all time low right now and ive started cutting again...
i just wanna be ok
im treated like crap
i need to know that there's a way out
can i go into foster care voluntarily??
HELP!!

[ccsmod15]

Hey there,
Happy birthday a bit early, it’s unfortunate that you don’t feel welcome at home because of your sexuality. We are who we are and should be respected and supported, not threatened with being kicked out at 16. For the record if they did try to kick you out that would constitute neglect and be a reportable offence for child abuse.
You mentioned wanting to get into foster care, from what we know that requires the state to find your home life unfit in some way. It’s possible that reporting your parents for neglect or verbal abuse would be enough but for more information you can look at childhelp.org for more information.
You mentioned you had started cutting again and wanted to let you know about To Write Love on Her Arms which is a youth self-harm community based website to talk about that subject. There is also the Trevor Project which is a LGBTQ+ based suicide lifeline which can be reached at 1-866-488-7386.
Other than that it’s good to have a plan as to where you will go if you do leave. If you left your parents would need to file a runaway report on you. Running away isn’t illegal it’s known as a status offence meaning police would simply bring you back home after they find you. Those you stay with however could potentially face charges of harboring a runaway. It’s also good to consider bringing any proof of identity documents such as a learner’s permit or driver’s license as often you can’t receive help without one.
Hopefully this information is helpful for you. Nobody should feel unsafe at home like that. If you just need someone to talk with or have more questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us online.

[Guest]

I'm 16 and I got kicked out my uncle took all my money and my friend said I can only stay a week at thier house I don't know my mom, dad and aunt so what do I do?.

[ccsmod13]

Hello,

Thanks for contacting NRS and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you with figuring out your next steps in this difficult situation. Asking for help was really responsible and smart of you.

As a minor you have a right to a safe place to live, and it is not okay that your uncle suddenly kicked you out. This can be seen as neglect and you do have the option to report this to child protective services. If you would like to learn more about how to make a report you can contact Child Help at 1-800-422-4453 or go to childhelp.org.

We can connect you to any youth shelters in your area if you call our hotline at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat at 1800runaway.org. A shelter can provide a safe place to live as well as help figuring out a long term plan.

We truly want to be a support for you as you decide on your next steps. We are available 24/7 to listen and help as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to reach out again by phone or chat if you would like to talk more in-depth about your situation and explore your options. You can contact us by phone at 1-800-786-2929 or use our live chat services at www.1800runaway.org.

Stay safe,
NRS