Some random facts that may scare you:
Estimates are that one in seven youths will leave home by the age of 18 (National Runaway Switchboard, 2001).
“Every year, assault, illness, and suicide claim the lives of approximately 5,000 runaway and homeless youth” (The National Runaway Switchboard, 2001, p. 2).
Young people on the streets find it very difficult to meet their basic needs, so they may also resort to survival sex to provide for themselves.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, more than half of all runaways are girls (Hammer, et al., 2002). 
The National Network for Youth (2003) reports that most homeless youth living on the streets are boys. Boys are more likely to be kicked out and girls more likely to run away, possibly because boys are more likely to engage in deviant behaviors that cause parents to kick them out and girls are more likely to experience sexual abuse that prompts them to run away.
The same abuse continues on the streets as girls are more likely to be raped and boys are more likely to be physically assaulted (Cauce, et al., 2000; MacLean, Embry,& Cauce, 1999).
Ensign and Bell (2004) found the average length of homelessness differed significantly according to whether the youth lived in a shelter or on the streets. For those living in shelters, the average length of homelessness was four months (range one to nine months), but the average length for those on the streets was three years (range one month to eight years).
One in eight youth under 18 will leave home and become a street person in need of services (Raleigh-DuRoff, 2004), and 40 percent do not return home
Do you have children or grandchildren or neighbors with children at risk? Do something about it before it is too late. Get help now.
I hope the picture above makes you want to cry.
Oldtimer’s comment: Click for All the Homeless Youth articles
Oldtimer Speaks Out 
I know a 14 year old who has run twice from his father. The first time it was over 600 miles to his mother because he wants to live with her. His father convinced him mom would go to jail if it happened again so he ran to a friend’s house the second time. He will run again and this time has said he will disappear.
He told his court appointed attorney he did not want to live with his father and that man told his father, but not the court system.
His mother has a two page document from an attorney outlining some of the illegal actions taken against her and the child. All it takes is another $10,000.00 or so to fight it.
Mom lost her job and now cleans houses because of these illegal last minute demands. Dad makes over $100,000.00 a year.
NO ONE will listen to the child.
NO ONE has responded to pleas for help. Not the ACLU or any of the teen age help web sites.
You can get more help from teens who will help a person run than from the people who don’t want you to.
I am sadden about the homelessness in America people need to get more involved in their communities and help prevent this issue and heal our families.
Thanks Latrina. I agree. Maybe you can volunteer in a local shelter or homeless agency as well. Good luck.
aaww how sad!!-(