I'm 16 with nowhere to go

[Guest]

Im a 16 year old girl my mom found my v****** and thought I was having sex so now she doesn't want me here

[ccsmod0]

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

Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

Hi I am 16 female and I am currently 33 weeks pregnant my family has a ton of issues. we all got into an argument where they had been drinking (my mom and my 18 year old brother) my brother said really messed up things and as a joke I recorded it and was joking saying I was going to post it. He then threatened to kill me and ran at me by they held him back. I left and went outside because I continued to think it was a joke. I came in like 20 minutes later and he was still saying how he was going to kill me so I got mad and said ill post it if he doesn't be quiet. My mom then came in my room trying to grab my phone so I wouldn't be able to post all the terrible stuff he was saying. And then I told her I was going to call the cops and I left my room and she kicked me from behind not to the point it hurt or anything but then she told me to leave and not come back so I did. She later after a couple hours told me to come inside where she continued to yell and say he was joking that he was going to kill me. And now she is saying that I can not use the insurance for my baby and I have no clue how to get my own insurance for my baby. I also do not have anywhere to go if she kicks me out again (this has happened on more than once) I have no job because I am pregnant and no where else to go. They are laughing and making fun of me and blaming everything on me. My baby has a lot of issues and he needs medical attention after he is born. What can I do?

[ccsmod13]

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at NRS. We appreciate you sharing what your home life and current situation has been like. It sounds like the family dynamic and your brother's inappropriate behavior has been taking it's toll. It is never okay for someone to threaten to kill you or to put their hands on you. Your mom should never escalate to violence during arguments but this was especially dangerous and out of line considering you are also pregnant. You and your child have a right to proper medical care and housing. While you are still a minor, it is your mother's responsibility to provide basic necessities like these. You deserve to feel supported and to be treated with respect. We want you to know that you are not alone in this, and we are here to listen and help 24/7.

If your mom does kick you out again, you do have the option to report this to child protective services. Their goal is to ensure you and your child have a safe place to live. If you want to learn more about reporting and what it could look like for you, you can speak with an advocate at childhelp.org. Another option is to go to a youth shelter which would provide a safe place to stay as well as additional support coming up with a long-term plan. We are happy to connect you with resources in your area if you contact us directly by phone 1-800-786-2929 or through our live chat services at 1800runaway.org.

Planned Parenthood can help with providing free and/or low cost services for both you and your child. You can visit their website at https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ to find more information on this and for nearby clinics.

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.

[Guest]

My girlfriends parents are mad at her and I don’t know why and they told her to leave and come to my house if she didn’t like there rules but idk if it’s ok or if I would get in trouble she is about to be 17

[ccsmod0]

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. It seems there is a lot that your girlfriend is faced with right now and you’re wanting to find a way to help them as you mentioned her being kicked out. It’s great that your girfriend has support and concern from you especially since this time is quite difficult for her.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of. We are here as support to help you and your friend through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
We’re here to listen and to help and hope you or your friend can reach out soon.
Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

my mom is kicking me out the house and im 16 yrs old i have no where to go im currently 5 months pregnant and we pretty much got into a argument about her her phone i was deleting my boyfriend old numbers because i didnt think she needed them in her phone beacuse they are numbers that dont work anymore so she kept yelling at me and i was like okay you dont need to yell at me i didnt think it was that big of a deal to have not important numbers in her phone and the fact that i was getting rid of them and she continued to yell at me and then she told me to give her phone while yelling so i placed her phone on the table and she kept yelling at me to give it to her and she said if you wanna continue to use my phone give it to me i gave it to her but i was like you want me to give you your phone but you keep yelling at me and her phone was right in her face also her sister was standing up right by the phone and since her sister was mad she had the nerve to call me stupid and then my mom was saying the door is right there you can get out my house and she was like you dont have to be here and i didnt want to get this far but she just kept yelling at me and i already ask her to stop yelling at me

[ccsmod15]

Hey there thank you for reaching out to the National Runaway Safeline,
It seems like you have a lot going on right now between your pregnancy and the way your mom has been treating you. You don’t deserve to suddenly be yelled at or called names and not listened to when you thought you were helping. With all the stress going on it is understandable to feel fed up with the situation and want to find alternative solutions for places to stay.
Generally, at 16 your mom isn’t able to kick you out of the house. To physically do so would be neglect on their part and potentially involve CPS/DCFS and be reportable as abuse. We aren’t legal or child abuse experts so to get a better picture of your rights and options for reporting you can go to https://www.childhelp.org/ for more information. If your mom does try to physically pull or push you out of the house you can contact police for help resolving the situation. Otherwise if you left without physically being forced to do so, your mom could still file a runaway report even if she verbally told you to leave. This is a status offence and police would look to bring you back home most likely.
If you do end up leaving it seems like you don’t have a safe place to be able to rely on going to. We do have a national database of shelters we can look at and see if there are housing resources around you. A couple more immediate options would be the https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/ or https://www.nationalsafeplace.org/. The Directory may not have youth focused shelters, while the National Safe Place is more focused on short term emergency shelter.
If you would like our help exploring shelter options or just want to vent about the situation you can use our online chat option at 1800runaway.org, or call our hotline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
We hope to hear from you again soon,
NRS.

[Guest]

I am 16 and my guardian is very abusive physically and mentally. Today she came into my room screaming and started hitting and scratching me to the point where my leg began to bleed all because of grades. I struggle in school due to my add and am planning on dropping out to get a job so that I can support myself because my guardian has threatened and tried to kick me out many times including today. I have no money and don't have any family or friends I can stay with. I suffer from many mental illnesses due to thus abuse and past trauma in my life and have no idea of what to do or where to go I have made three reports to cps and nothing changed.

[ccsmod0]

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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
The easiest way to leave home is with your parents' permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your parents. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. But it does sound like you haven't found much help from them. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.
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 can also use their TXT 4 HELP free service offered to all youth in crisis. It’s quick, easy, safe, and confidential:

· Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357).
· Within seconds, you will receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number for the local youth agency.
· For immediate help, reply with “2chat” to text interactively with a trained counselor.

We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button). If you would like to look into further emotional support options, you can text with a crisis worker at the National Alliance on Mental Illness 24/7 by texting "NAMI" to 741741.
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m turning 16 in a month and I don’t want to stay at my house anymore. I live with my mom and sister and for the past 2 years all my mom had done is swear at me call and call me an idiot. She give up everything for us and even gave me the biggest bedroom in the house but whenever I talk to her all she talks about is her divorce with my father who I don’t want to be around. She tells me if I don’t like it I should go live with him because “he has lots of money”. I love my mom but she always making me feel guilty and blaming every bad thing on me. She’s called me a cow and a piece of ******** and almost every swear you can think of and when I tell her it is traumatic she turns it around and makes it about her traumas. I don’t have any friends or family that live in the US so I can’t go stay with anyone. I cry every day and I can’t take it anymore. I usually have perfect grades but they are starting to suffer because of this. I hate my father but at this point I want to live with him. I told my mom this and she said if I did she would never talk to me again. I don’t want to live with any of them but I don’t have anywhere to go. What should I do?

[ccsmod15]

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. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by forum to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail 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.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi,
I am going to come out to my parents as pansexual, and I know for a fact they will kick me out. I have no where to go and I don’t know what to do. I’m freaking out and terrified, but I need to tell them or I don’t know if I can survive being with them for another two years. What can I do? What should I do?
thank you!

[ccsmod4]

Thanks for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline.

You made a great first step to finding the help that you may need. It sounds like you are weighing a big decision and fear that your parent’s won’t be supportive. You deserve to be treated with respect, to experience acceptance and to feel safe.

We want you to know that you are strong for having gone through so much already. It is perfectly okay to deviate from what others or the common population believe to be “normal”. Your bravery and resilience is so admirable. You are so strong for having gone through so much without having the acceptance that you do deserve for just being you. Remember that you are not alone.
Having a space to vent and explore options may often bring out a solution previously not thought of.
If you ever want to talk more about what you are experiencing or get additional support we are here 24/7 at 1800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or our live chat service www.1800runaway.org

Take care,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi are you guys still helping?

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out. 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]

Im 16 and my mom wants to kick me out on Friday. I need a place to stay and a way to still go to school. Is there a Youth place that I can stay at for a few days for free? Plz let me know ASAP. Thank you

[ccsmod15]

Hello 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. 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 can also use their TXT 4 HELP free service offered to all youth in crisis. It’s quick, easy, safe, and confidential:

· Text the word “safe” and your current location (address, city, state) to 4HELP (44357).
· Within seconds, you will receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number for the local youth agency.
· For immediate help, reply with “2chat” to text interactively with a trained counselor.

You can also reach out to us via phone or chat and we would be happy to help look for places to stay for you. Our number is 1800-RUNAWAY or you can find our chat at www.1800runaway.org.

Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I’m 16 and my parents kicked me out there house I have no money at all but I don’t wanna go to a homeless shelter I just wanna get a quick job save money get a house make new friends and save up for what I want mostly

[ccsmod2]

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 opening up to us. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

It sounds like you’re in a stressful situation, and we’re glad you reached out for help.

We understand not wanting to live in a shelter, but it sounds like you may be a good fit for a transitional living program. These programs typically provide a place to stay for 6-24 months, depending on your need and the organization. This kind of resource could provide a place to stay while you save money to get back on your feet. If you would like to further discuss the details of your situation, we encourage you to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY and we can search for resources in your area.

If calling is not feasible, you can also chat us at www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

We hope this helped and take care!

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I am 16 and I am being kicked out I have to be out by Friday .I go to work and I do school.I am being forced to go to my fathers and my father has not been in my life since I was 3.Os there a group home I can go to stay or a youth facility because I don’t want to stay anywhere I am not welcome

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out to us, we hope to help as best we can. It sounds like a tough situation your dealing with right now. It may be an option to have an ALA (Alternative Living Arrangement) where your allowed to stay at someone home like a friend or family member. Hopefully, you could stay with someone close by so that you could continue to work and go to school in your area. It might be difficult to bring this up, if possible it may be helpful to bring in someone you think your parents might hear out to help you have this conversation with them. Another option could be emancipation.

We are not legal experts, but we can help you get a general sense of how emancipation works. Our general understanding is some states offer formal emancipation statutes while others do not unfortunately. Laws vary depending on your location, but in many states a minor can petition the court for emancipation to take responsibility for their own care before they turn 18. Generally speaking, courts are wary about granting emancipation. In most cases, you would have to prove in court that you have an income and can care for yourself financially, and that you are able to live separately from your parents. It also helps to be in good standing at school. The court will also factor in the mental and physical welfare of your parents in order to establish your best interest. Usually your legal guardian would have to agree to this in court. Once you are emancipated, you can legally choose where you live, but you might still find that you cannot sign a lease or build credit until you turn 18. The emancipation process can take several months or up to a year, and may cost money in the form of court fees and other expenses. Usually, the best way to learn about emancipation in your state is to contact a lawyer. You may also find information at your county family court. We can look up legal aid resources that may be able to help you with the process. Please do not hesitate to call or chat if you have questions, need legal resources, or need to talk. We can explore your situation, go over all your options, and come up with a plan and resources to deal with your situation over the phone or on live chat. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon, and wish you the best of luck.

We hope this helps, if you would like to talk in more detail, please chat or call us!

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

alr so i’m 16 n i got kicked out n been for 3 months. i used to run away a lot n stufff so i’ve always been out. my parents is good parents but they jus don’t want me in their home. i see why now cos i grew up a lot. now i don’t even want to go back. but either way they don’t want me back. i’m bout to get a job and i’m doing better in school but i just really need a stable place to stay. a home.

[ccsmod8]

Hello there –

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to reach out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline on our public forum. Hopefully by giving you support during your crisis, there are others that are reading this thread that can feel comfortable reaching out as well. We are always here to listen and here to help in any way that we can. It can be very frustrating not knowing what to do or what your next step might be from this point on.

If you have a specific question that you can't find the answer to on any of these threads or maybe find a place to vent about what you are feeling right now, you can always call us. It’s hard to talk to just anyone one about what has been going on. Since it's a public forum, we can't give you a resource here, but if you connect with us via phone or online chat, we can take a look in our database and hopefully be able to locate a youth agency that can provide you local support. Please reach out via phone or even our online chat for more help.

We hope to hear from you so that we can help you further.

[Guest]

I am 16 and I'm homeless. I have no one. I was living with my grandparents but then I hit my sister and they threw me out no matter how much I showed them i was sorry and hoe much better I am they refuse to let me come back. My youth minister has taken me in, but I am definitely over staying my welcome. I know they dont want me here anymore I've heard them talking about it. I have no where to go. I was thinking about taking a bus somewhere and do odd jobs to buy a poor car and live in it at a parking lot. What should I do. I've been in faster care before and it was a nightmare it's not at all how they say it is everyone is corrupt. And I don't want to go to a boys home or an orphanage because I wouldnt do well there i would come out depressed worse. I need help please.

[ccsmod5]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us, we understand it can be difficult to take that first step. We hope to help as best we can. Being 16, you might be able to consider emancipation. It would make you legally independent and although you might have some trouble at first being a minor who is independent by the court, it could help you avoid foster homes. Another option might be a TLP, a Transitional Living Program, most TLP’s start taking youth when they are around 17. We could help you look in your area and see if there are any nearby that might be able to offer assistance until you turn 17. A TLP is a program that helps youth learn to be on their own and is a longer term than traditional shelters. Some shelters also offer help finding employment, in most states you can begin to work at the age of 16. We do advise youth to be careful when taking jobs in random cities from people who may not be from an agency to avoid some kind of emergency situation. If you every feel unsafe or in any danger don’t hesitate to call 911.
There are a few options we can talk about, please feel free to call or chat with us so we can help.

Stay safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi I'm 16 and And I take care of seven kids that are my cousins and I Don't have my mom or dad because they are drug addicts so I live with m grandparents who are cruel and mean and My grandma always calls me out of my name hits me with her hands and threaten to kill me and One time she told me to kill myself. I'm depressed I use to cut myself and all that she always calls me ugly and I have no self esteem and calls me fat so I starve myself. I jut got a phone In January and My little cousin got hers and she's 11 and I'm 16 she takes my phone when the kids mess something up And I cook,clean and help them with school work give them baths and I have school as well I have good grades she never lets me do anything she called me a Hoe for having a dress and I'm really tired she calls my little brother who is 14 gay because of the way he walks and My papa put his hands on him and she didn't do anything so I got on his back and pulled him off. I try so hard to be perfect for them but it's hard when you get judged everyday I never really got to experience anything and she says she is going to kick me out I'm not worried about me I'm worried about my brother because I can take all the hits and the mean words but I don't want anything to happen to him.
Thanks for your time.

[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 must be really hard to live in a home with so much tension. Words can carry a lot of weight and hurt a lot and it makes sense that it would build up over time and be a lot to handle alone. You deserve to feel safe and loved at home.

You mentioned feelings of depression, and we know that stressors like this can be overwhelming at times and it sounds like you have turned to self-injury as a way to cope. It’s totally understandable that you would want to do something to give you a feeling of power and control when you may feel hopeless. To Write Love on Her Arms is an organization dedicated to supporting people who use this coping mechanism on their road to self-realization and recovery. You can check them out by going to https://twloha.com/. If you’d like some additional support, an organization that may be helpful is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). You can contact them by calling 1-800-950-NAMI or you can text them by sending NAMI to 741741

You said that you and your brother have been hit by your grandparents and it raises a lot of concern about your safety and well-being. Absolutely no one deserves to be abused. If you are currently at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering. It may also be a good idea to explore options for staying with another family member or someone you trust as far as transferring custody.

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

We'd love to hear from you about your experience using our crisis forum. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services to support youth and families. Please click the link below to fill out our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/we_care_what_you_think

[Guest]

I’m 16 with nowhere to go my dad doesn’t care for me I tried living with him he had a drug problem and my mom doesn’t care either she always putting something against me being petty to me and treating me like a slave I’m tired of everywhere I go I don’t feel wanted I don’t have anymore family I just wanna get away from her as soon as possible I hate my life so much being here makes me wanna hurt myself tired of all the stuff I go through nobody cares .

[ccsmod5]

Hello,

You mentioned some things that raise concern for your safety and well-being. If any harm or abuse is happening at home, you have the right to report it. If your parents are unable to care for you and basic needs, it is considered neglect. We are not experts on the issue, but generally once it's been reported, social services will either decide whether or not to take the case and further investigate. If they do take the case, they will send out someone from child protective services to do an investigation (interviewing people in the household) and from there they will decide the level of danger within the household. It generally ranges from no danger (the youth stays in the home, some services are given, and the case is closed), moderate danger (they will provide family services with possible temporary displacement) and high danger (they will remove the youth from the home and offer certain services).

If you feel like this is an option you want to explore, you may find this website helpful: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/. We can also help you to file a report if that’s the route you are considering.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255); www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org is also a great resource to reach out to in addition to our crisis services.
Often, having a safe space to share how you’re feeling may bring a variety of solutions previously not thought of. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This may be an isolating and lonely time for you, but you are not alone in this. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time.

Please be safe and reach out soon by phone or chat so that we may help.

Take care,
NRS