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 Why do children and young people run away, or become homeless?
For most young people, running away is not something they have planned.
Deciding
to run is a decision made on the spur of the moment, and the young person is often
not prepared, with no money, no warm clothes, no phone numbers, nor any idea about where they might seek help.
Some of the main reasons children and young people run away, or find themselves homeless are:
ARGUMENTS
Jeannie, who was 16, asked ChildLine to call the police because her mum and dad had told her to leave. At ChildLine ’s request, the police collected her and returned her to her parents, who hugged her and agreed to talk the problem over.
Many of the children and young people who call ChildLine about running away or being homeless have argued with their families. Most desperately want to re-establish good communication and get on again with their parents and siblings.
VIOLENCE WITHIN THE FAMILY
Kelly, 14, had run away after an argument with her mum, who had accused her of taking money from her purse, hit her and told her to pack her bags. Kelly had walked around all night and went back in the morning to talk to her mum, who hit her again, and pushed
her to the ground. Kelly asked if she could go into care.
Some young people at risk of running away or becoming homeless are experiencing
violence. When talking about their families, they describe being shouted at, sworn at,
blamed for everything, scapegoated, hit, pushed, shoved and threatened by their parents or step-parents.
PREGNANCY
‘I’m pregnant and I don’t want my mum to find out. I’ve run away to another
town. I just can’t face my mum.’
Young women who are pregnant can also face being thrown out by angry and aggressive parents. Sometimes they decide to run away rather than talk to their parents. Girls as young as 13 or 14 called ChildLine saying they had been thrown out of their homes after telling their parents they were pregnant.
PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Jenny, 14, had run away with her friend Moira. Her dad had started to sexually abuse her when she was 10 and she couldn’t stand it any more. She said: Mum didn’t believe me so I told my auntie. She did believe me, but she couldn’t do anything about it. I ’m scared
he ’ll come looking for me.’
Around 37% of boys and 63% of girls calling about running away or being homeless also talked of being abused, physically and/or sexually. Children and young people often find it hard to tell an adult about the abuse; or they are not believed.
RUNNING FROM CARE
Jo, 13, phoned. She had just moved to a new children’s home and didn’t want to
be there. She liked where she was before so she had run away and gone back there. When she returned to the new home, the workers really shouted at her. She left again. She said, ‘I’m not going back, I can’t talk to anyone there. I’d rather sleep out.’
Children running from care who called ChildLine talked of constant arguments, being hit, and favouritism for other children amongst foster carers or residential staff. They also talked of being bullied and/or abused by other children in the home, or by staff.
 Where to look for help and advice
Why do children and young people run away, or become homeless?
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