As the holiday season comes to a close and a new year approaches, Greyhound Bus Lines is once again shining a light on its initiative aimed at reuniting runaway youth with their families. The bus service has been collaborating with the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) since 1987 to facilitate their Home Free program, which assists approximately 400 young individuals each year in returning home without any cost.
Eligibility for the Home Free Program
To qualify for a ticket through this program, young people must reach out to the NRS helpline. They should be aged between 12 and 21, listed on an official runaway report, and express a desire to reconnect with their families. Notably, participants can utilize this program for a maximum of two trips, and if the individual is under 15, a free ticket is also available for their parent or guardian.
Support from the National Runaway Safeline
The NRS provides a crisis hotline and online resources available around the clock, every day of the year, supporting at-risk youth, those who have fled their homes, or are experiencing homelessness, along with their families. Their services include crisis intervention, message relays, and advocacy. The NRS has handled nearly 90,000 inquiries through various channels, with a significant portion of their contacts—85%—being individuals aged 18 or younger, and around 70% identifying as female.
The Reality of Runaway Youth
Statistics reveal that 1.6 to 2.8 million youths run away each year in the United States, with some as young as ten years old. The reasons for running away can be heart-wrenching. Data indicates that nearly half (47%) of runaway youth cite conflicts with their guardians as a primary reason for leaving home. Additionally, over 50% of youth living in shelters or on the streets report that their parents either encouraged them to leave or were indifferent to their departure. Disturbingly, 80% of homeless girls have experienced some form of sexual or physical abuse, while 43% of all runaway youth—boys and girls alike—have faced physical abuse prior to leaving home.
Life on the streets is fraught with danger. More than 70% of runaway youth are considered endangered, and 14% have resorted to trading sex for basic necessities. Alarmingly, one-third have attempted suicide at some point in their lives.
Getting Help and More Information
For those seeking more information about the National Runaway Safeline, visit their website. And if you or someone you know is contemplating a return home, it’s crucial to explore the options available for safe reunification. You can also find related insights about home insemination and parenting in our other blog posts, such as this one about home insemination kits. For authoritative guidance on home insemination, consider checking out Make a Mom’s resource. Additionally, for those interested in understanding more about success rates in insemination, WebMD offers excellent information.
Conclusion
In summary, Greyhound’s Home Free program serves as a vital lifeline for runaway youth, providing them with a means to return to their families at no cost. Through the collaboration with NRS, the program addresses the serious issue of youth homelessness and the complexities surrounding family dynamics.
Keyphrase: Greyhound runaway youth program
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