Ko e nofo taʻeʻapi ʻa e toʻu tupú mo e nofoʻanga malu ki he toʻu tupú mo e kakai lalahi kei talavou ʻoku ʻikai haʻanau ʻalú¶

Being forced out of your home, running away from domestic violence or severe family conflict, or aging out of foster care with nowhere to sleep is an acute life-safety emergency. Unaccompanied minors (under age 18) and young adults (ages 18 to 24) sleeping on the street, in transit stations, or in cars face immediate exposure to human traffickers, physical violence, weather extremes, and lost schooling.

If you are a teenager or young adult without a safe place to sleep tonight, you do not have to sleep outside and you do not have to enter an adult homeless shelter. Every major country funds dedicated, youth-only emergency shelters, drop-in centers, and crisis transit networks specifically for ages 12 to 24. Under federal law in the United States (the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) and comparable youth education statutes internationally, you also have the legal right to stay enrolled in your current school, receive free school bus transportation and free meals, and apply for college financial aid independently without a parent's signature.

Knowing how to activate a Safe Place pickup in under 30 minutes, how youth shelters handle parent notification and confidentiality laws, how to spot human trafficking lures during the first 48 hours on the street, and how to secure your own health care and food benefits keeps you safe and in control of your future.

Fai ʻeni he taimí ni .¶

1. Call or text a 24/7 confidential youth crisis hotline right now:
2. United States: Call or text 1-800-786-2929 (1-800-RUNAWAY / National Runaway Safeline), or text the word SAFE and your current street address, city, and state to 44357 (4HELP) to get the closest Safe Place location and a free ride to a youth shelter within minutes.
3. Canada: Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868 (Kids Help Phone, 24/7), or call 211.
4. United Kingdom: Call or text 116 000 (Runaway Helpline, free 24/7), call 0800 1111 (Childline for under 19), or call 0808 800 4444 (Centrepoint Helpline for ages 16 to 25).
5. European Union: Dial 116 000 (Missing and Runaway Children Hotline) or 116 111 (Child Helpline) free from any mobile phone.
6. Australia: Call 1800 55 1800 (Kids Helpline for ages 5 to 25, free 24/7) or call your state youth homelessness intake line.
7. Kapau ‘okú ke ‘i ha tu‘unga fakatu‘utāmaki fakaesino vave mei ha tokotaha ngaohikovi‘i pe fefakatau‘aki ‘i ha feitu‘u pē ‘i he māmaní, tā ki ho‘o fika fakavavevave fakalotofonuá (911 ‘i he ‘Iunaite Seteté mo Kānata, 112 ‘i he kotoa ‘o e ‘Iunioni ‘Iulopé, 999 ‘i he Pule‘anga Fakatahatahá, pe 000 ‘i ‘Aositelēlia) pe vakai‘i ‘emau fika . ngaahi fika fakavavevave tohi fakahinohino.
8. Lue atu ki ha feitu'u faka'ilonga kulokula-mo-'uli'uli "Feitu'u Malu" (fale tamate afi, laipeli, pasi fefononga'aki, pe falekoloa hoa ngaue): Kumi ki he faka'ilonga taiamoni kulokula Feitu'u Malu 'i ha fa'ahinga fale tamate afi, laipeli fakapule'anga, pasi fefononga'aki 'a e kolo, YMCA, pe falekoloa/connive 'oku kau mai. Lue atu ki ha taha ngaue pe tamate afi pea talaange: "'Oku ou fiema'u ha Feitu'u Malu." Te nau 'omi koe ki loto 'i ha feitu'u fakafo'ituitui pea telefoni ki ha tokotaha ngaue laiseni 'i he fale nofo'anga 'o e to'utupu ke ne 'omi koe 'i loto 'i he miniti 'e 20 ki he 30.
9. ʻOua naʻá ke teitei tali ha heka, loki hōtele, paʻanga, pe sofa mei ha taha ʻoku ʻikai ke ke ʻiloʻi ʻi ha tauʻanga pasi pe ʻi he ʻinitanetí: ʻOku leʻo lahi ʻa e kau fekai mo e kau fefakatauʻaki tangatá ʻi he ngaahi tauʻanga pasí, ngaahi tauʻanga lēlué, ngaahi falekai meʻakai vave, mo e ngaahi polokalama mītia fakasōsialé ʻo kumi ki he toʻu tupú ʻoku nau ʻave ʻa e ngaahi kato toʻotoʻó. ‘Oua ‘aupito na‘á ke heka ki he kā ‘a ha taha muli pe ‘alu ki ha fale nofo‘anga ta‘emaheni ke fetongi‘aki ha feitu‘u ke mohe ai.
10. Tauhi ho'o ID, tohi fanau, telefoni, mo e charger ke fufuu'i 'i ho sino: Tuku ho'o ID fakasiteiti, ID fakakolo, tohi fanau, kaati Malu'i Fakasosiale, kaati malu'i mo'ui, ngaahi faito'o, mo e charger telefoni 'i loto 'i ha kato kote 'i loto pe ko ha kato zip 'oku tui 'i lalo ho kofu ke 'oua na'a kaiha'asi kinautolu lolotonga ho'o malolo.
11. 'Alu ki he ako 'apongipongi 'o kole ke talanoa fakataautaha mo ho'o "McKinney-Vento Liaison": Neongo 'oku 'ikai ha'o tu'asila pea 'ikai ha'o matu'a 'oku 'iate koe, 'alu ki ho'o fale ako 'i he pongipongi. Ko e vahenga ako fakapule'anga kotoa pe 'i he 'Iunaiteti Siteiti 'oku fiema'u 'e he lao fakafederal ke 'i ai ha McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison 'a ia 'e lava ke ne 'oatu 'i he taimi pe ko ia 'a e me'atokoni pongipongi mo e ho'ata ta'etotongi, paasi pasi, ngaahi naunau fakama'a, ngaahi kofu, ha loki ki ho'o ngaahi kato, mo e ngaahi fakahinohino ki he fale nofo'anga 'o e to'utupu 'o 'ikai ke tautea'i koe ki he misatu signres.
12. Fili ha Fale Nofo'anga Pe 'a e To'utupu (ta'u 12 ki he 17 pe 18 ki he 24), 'oua 'aupito ko ha fale nofo'anga 'o e kakai lalahi fakalukufua: 'I he taimi 'oku ke telefoni ai ki he 211 pe ko ha laine telefoni 'o e faingata'a'ia, fakaha ho ta'u motu'a totonu koe'uhi ke nau fakahinohino koe ki ha fale nofo'anga 'oku fakatapui 'a e To'utupu Hola mo e To'utupu (RHY)**-senita pau kakai ‘i ho to‘ú.

Tafe 'a e tu'utu'uni ki he nofo'anga malu vave 'i he kulupu ta'u motu'a¶

Muimui ki he hala fakasitepu ko ʻení ke aʻu ki ha feituʻu malu kuo siviʻi, mo feʻunga mo e taʻu motuʻá ʻi he pō ní ʻo ʻikai ke ke fakaʻaliʻali koe ki he fanga manu fekai ʻi he halá.

flowchart TD
    Youth["To'utupu pe To'utupu Lalahi 'Oku 'Ikai ha Fale Malu 'i he Poo Ni"] --> Danger{"‘Oku Tuli Koe, ‘Ohofi, pe Pukepuke Koe ‘o Fakafepaki‘i Ho Loto ‘i he Taimi ní?"}
    Danger -->|Yes: Immediate Danger| Call911["Ta ki he 911 / 112 / 999 he taimi pe ko ia pe Lele ki loto 'i he 'api tamate afi ofi taha, Falemahaki ER, pe 'Apitanga Polisi"]
    Danger -->|No Immediate Violence| AgeSplit{"Ko e Hā Ho Taʻu Motuʻa Lolotonga?"}
    AgeSplit -->|Under Age 18 (Unaccompanied Minor)| MinorPath["Fili A: Tohi 'MALU' + Tu'asila ki he 44357 pe Ta ki he 1-800-786-2929 ('Amelika) / 116 000 (Pilitānia/'Iulope) / 1-800-668-6868 (CA)"]
    MinorPath --> SafePlace["Fili B: Lue atu ki ha faʻahinga ʻApi Tāmate Afí, Laipeli, Pasi ʻo e Koló, pe Falekoloa ʻoku ʻi ai ha Fakaʻilonga Kulokula 'Feituʻu Malu'"]
    SafePlace --> RHY["ʻOku ʻAve Koe ʻe he Tokotaha Ngāue ʻi he Fale Nofoʻanga ʻo e Toʻu Tupú ki he Nofoʻanga ʻo e Toʻu Tupú ʻi he Senitā Tefitó (Taʻu 12 ki he 17): Mohenga Malu, Meʻakai Vela, mo e Tokotaha Ngāue Keisi Fakapulipulí"]
    AgeSplit -->|Ages 18 to 24 (Transition-Age Youth)| TAYPath["Ta mai ki he 1-800-786-2929 pe 211 pea Kole 'a e 'Nofo'anga Pe 'a e To'utupu pe Senitā Drop-In 'a e TAY (Ta'u 18 ki he 24)'."]
    TAYPath --> TAYOptions["Maʻu ʻa e Nofoʻanga Fakavavevave ʻo e Kakai Lalahi Kei Talavoú, Polokalama Moʻui Liliu (TLP), ʻApi Kulupu Fakafanaú, pe ʻApi Talitali"]
    RHY --> SchoolNext["Pongipongi Hoko: Fetaulaki mo e Fetu'utaki 'a e 'Apiako McKinney-Vento pea Kole ki he SNAP Tau'ataina/Medicaid mo e Tokoni Fakapa'anga"]
    TAYOptions --> SchoolNext

Ko e founga ngaue mo'oni 'a e "Safe Place" mo e ngaahi fale nofo'anga fakavavevave 'a e to'utupu¶

‘Oku nofo ‘a e to‘utupu tokolahi ‘i he halá ‘i ha ngaahi tu‘unga ‘aisi pe fakatu‘utāmaki koe‘uhi ‘oku nau ilifia ‘i he‘enau lue atu ki ha fale nofo‘anga ‘o e to‘utupú ‘oku ‘uhinga iá ‘e ha‘i nima kinautolu ‘e he kau polisí ‘i he taimi pē ko iá, loka‘i kinautolu ‘i loto ‘i ha sela tauhi‘anga ‘o e fānau iiki, pe fakamālohi‘i ke nau toe foki ki he nima ‘o ha mātu‘a ngaohikovi‘i ‘i loto ‘i ha houa ‘e taha. Ko e mahino ki he ngaahi lao mo'oni 'oku pule'i 'aki 'a e ngaahi polokalama To'utupu Hola mo e To'utupu 'oku 'ikai hanau 'api (RHY) 'oku ne to'o 'a e manavasi'i ko ia.

1. Founga ngaue 'a e netiueka 'o e Feitu'u Malu Fakafonua ('Amelika)¶

Feitu'u Malu (nationalsafeplace.org) ko ha netiueka fakafonua ia ʻo e ngaahi feituʻu fakakomiuniti ʻoku laka hake ʻi he 20,000 ʻoku fakaʻilongaʻi ʻaki ha fakaʻilonga taiamoni kulokula-mo-ʻuliʻuli ngingila ʻoku pehē ai ko e FEITUʻU MALU:

• Feitu'u ke ma'u ai kinautolu: Meimei ko e ngaahi kolomu'a kotoa pe Ngaahi Fale Tamate Afi, Ngaahi Laipeli Fakapule'anga, Ngaahi Pasi Fefononga'aki 'a e Kolo, YMCAs, mo e ngaahi falekoloa faito'o hoa ngaue 'e lauiafe, ngaahi falekoloa (hange ko e QuikTrip), mo e ngaahi falekai.
• Founga hono ngaue'aki 'o e Txt 4 TOKONI: Text 'a e fo'i lea SAFE mo ho feitu'u lolotonga (tu'asila hala, kolo, siteiti, pe zip code) ki he 44357. ʻI ha ngaahi sekoni siʻi pē, te ke maʻu ha text ʻotomētiki mo e tuʻasila mo e fika telefoni totonu ʻo e saiti ofi taha ʻo e Safe Place mo e fale nofoʻanga fakalotofonua ʻo e toʻu tupú, mo ha fili ke text 2CHAT ke message live taha-ki-he-taha mo ha tokotaha fale'i kuo ako'i.
• Ko e me'a 'oku hoko 'i ho'o lue atu ki loto: 'Oku 'ikai fiema'u ke ke fakamatala'i ho'o talanoa mo'ui ki ha tokotaha tauhi pa'anga falekoloa pe faka'uli pasi. Talaange pē, "ʻOku ou fie maʻu ha tokoni, ʻoku ou ʻi heni ki he Feituʻu Malu." ʻE tuku atu ʻe he tokotaha ngāué ke ke tangutu ʻi ha loki malu, loki mālōlō fakafoʻituitui pe loki ʻi he fale afi, ʻoatu ha vai, pea telefoni ki he fale nofoʻanga ʻo e toʻu tupú ʻoku laiseni fakalotofonuá. ʻE fakaʻuli ha tokotaha faleʻi ki he toʻu tupú kuo ʻosi siviʻi (ʻikai ko ha kā polisi, ʻi he ngaahi meʻalele pikipiki ʻo e Safe Place angamahení) ki he feituʻú ʻi loto ʻi ha miniti ʻe 20 ki he 30 ke ʻomi koe ki he fale nofoʻanga ʻo e toʻu tupú.

2. Ko e ha e me'a 'oku hoko 'i he taimi 'oku hu ai ha ki'i tamasi'i 'oku te'eki ke ta'u 18 ki ha fale nofo'anga 'o e to'utupu? (Ko e Tu‘utu‘uni Houa ‘e 72)¶

ʻI he ʻIunaiteti Siteití, ʻoku fakapaʻanga ʻe he puleʻanga fakafederal ʻa e ngaahi fale nofoʻanga ʻo e toʻu tupú ki he fānau iiki taʻu 12 ki he 17 ʻoku ʻikai ke nau ʻalu fakataha mo iá.

• 'Oku 'IKAI ke puke koe: Ko e nofo ta'e'api pe tuli mei ho 'api ("throwaway / locked-out youth") 'oku 'ikai ko ha hia, pea 'oku 'ikai ke loka'i 'a e ngaahi fale nofo'anga 'o e to'utupu, ngaahi fale nofo'anga 'oku faka'ilo ki he lavea 'oku 'i ai 'a e ngaahi mohenga, ngaahi kaukau, me'atokoni vela, laundry, mo e kau fale'i, 'ikai ko e ngaahi fale fakapōpula.
• Ko e tu'utu'uni fakatokanga 'a e matu'a houa 'e 24 ki he 72 PEA mo e Tu'utu'uni 'o e Ngaohikovi'i: 'I he malumalu 'o e ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'a e Lao ki he To'utupu 'o e Runaway mo e Homeless 'a e pule'anga (mo e ngaahi lao ki he laiseni 'o e fale nofo'anga 'o e siteiti), 'oku ma'u 'e he ngaahi fale nofo'anga 'o e to'utupu 'a e houa 'e 24 ki he 72** ke fetu'utaki ki he matu'a 'o ha ki'i tamasi'i, tauhi fakalao 'a e welfare ko e agency let sando 'a e pule'anga.
• TUKUKEHE FAKATU'UTU'UNGA KAPAU 'OKU KE HOLA MEI HE NGAAHI NGAUE'I: Talaange ki he fale'i 'o e shelter intake 'a e mo'oni lolotonga ho'o check-in fakafo'ituitui kapau na'a ke mavahe mei 'api koe'uhi ko ha matu'a, matu'a-ua, pe tauhi na'e **taa'i fakasino koe, ngaohikovi'i fakasekisuale koe, fakatau atu koe, fakafiekaia'i koe 'o LGBT+ koe, pe kiQ. Ko e taimi te ke lipooti ai ha ngaohikoviá pe fakatuʻutāmaki lahi ʻi ʻapí, ʻE ʻIKAI fakafoki koe ʻe he fale nofoʻanga ʻo e toʻu tupú ki hoʻo tokotaha ngaohikoviá; ka, ʻoku nau tauhi fakapulipuli ho feituʻu tonu ʻi he lokí, faile ha lipooti maluʻi ki he Ngaahi Ngāue Maluʻi ʻo e Fānaú (CPS) pe ko ha tokotaha taukapoʻi ʻo e toʻu tupú, pea fokotuʻutuʻu ha nofoʻanga tauhi fakavavevave malu, tauhi fakakāinga mo ha kāinga malu, pe nofoʻanga liliu ʻo e toʻu tupú.

3. Ngaahi faʻahinga fale kehekehe ʻoku fakataumuʻa ki he toʻu tupú (Taʻu 12 ki he 24)¶

Defending against human traffickers and street predators (The First 48 Hours)¶

National studies show that nearly 1 in 3 unaccompanied runaway or homeless youth are approached by a human trafficker or exploiter within 48 hours of leaving home. Traffickers know that a cold, hungry, exhausted teenager sitting at a bus station, train depot, 24-hour diner, or shopping mall with a stuffed backpack is vulnerable.

• 24/7 Human Trafficking Emergency Rescue Line: In the United States, call 1-888-373-7888, text INFO pe HELP to 233733 (BEFREE), or chat at humantraffickinghotline.org. In Canada, call 1-833-900-1010. In the United Kingdom, call 08000 121 700 (Modern Slavery Helpline).

LGBTQ+ youth homelessness: dedicated affirming safe havens¶

LGBTQ+ teenagers and young adults make up roughly 28 to 40 percent of all unhoused youth, most often after being kicked out or abused when coming out to family members. If you are an LGBTQ+ young person, you have the right to safe, affirming shelter where your gender identity and pronouns are respected:

• The Trevor Project (24/7 LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Intervention, United States): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678 (free, 100 percent confidential, 24/7). Counselors provide immediate crisis support and can connect you with LGBTQ+-affirming youth shelters and drop-in centers (such as Ali Forney Center, Los Angeles LGBT Center Youth Center, Ruth Ellis Center, or local True Colors United partners).
• LGBT National Youth Talkline (Up to Age 25): Call 1-800-246-7743.
• Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860 (United States) or 1-877-330-6366 (Canada).
• akt (kimu'a ko e The Albert Kennedy Trust, 'Ingilani): Poupou'i 'a e kau talavou LGBTQ+ ta'u 16 ki he 25 'oku nau fehangahangai mo e nofo ta'e'api 'i he kotoa 'o Pilitania (akt.org.uk).
• Tu'utu'uni 'o e Hu Tatau 'a e HUD ('Iunaiteti Siteiti): 'I he malumalu 'o e ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'a e Potungaue Fale mo e Fakalakalaka 'o e Kolo (HUD), ko e ngaahi nofo'anga mo e polokalama fale kotoa pe 'oku nau ma'u 'a e pa'anga tokoni 'a e HUD 'oku tapui fakalao mei he fakafaikehekehe'i 'o makatu'unga 'i he fakakaukau fakasekisuale pe 'ulungaanga fakasekisuale pea kuo pau ke fokotu'u 'a e transgenderth mo e non-lfbinance in-lfinified (‘o ‘ikai fiema‘u ha ngaahi tohi fakafaito‘o pe ngaahi sivi fakaesino ‘oku ‘ohofi).

Your school and college rights: The McKinney-Vento Act and FAFSA¶

If you are unhoused, couch-surfing at a friend's house, sleeping in a car, or staying in a shelter or motel, your school is your safest daytime anchor. You do not need a permanent address or a parent with you to go to school.

1. K-12 Public School Rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (US)¶

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Act (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.), an "unaccompanied homeless youth" includes any student who is not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (including couch-surfing / "doubled-up" on a friend's or relative's floor, sleeping in a shelter, motel, car, or campground).

Walk into the main office or guidance counselor's office of your school and ask to speak privately with your district's McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison. By federal law, the liaison must guarantee you these six immediate rights:

2. Going to college without parent tax info (FAFSA Dependency Override)¶

Normally, students under age 24 applying for college financial aid in the United States on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) are required to provide their parents' tax returns. However, if you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of homelessness and self-supporting, you are legally classified as an Independent Student on the FAFSA.

• How it works: Check "Yes" to the unaccompanied homeless youth question on the FAFSA form. Your high school McKinney-Vento Liaison, your Runaway and Homeless Youth shelter director, or your college financial aid administrator can sign a simple verification letter confirming your status.
• What you receive: You do not need a single signature or tax document from your parents, you qualify for the maximum Federal Pell Grant and state aid grants based solely on your own zero/low income, and you receive priority access to year-round on-campus dormitory housing (including over Thanksgiving, winter, and summer breaks) and campus food pantries.

Can minors get medical care, birth control, or food stamps without parents?¶

A major worry for 15-to-17-year-olds on their own is how to see a doctor, get a prescription refilled, or buy groceries without a parent present.

Returning home safely: Free bus tickets ("Home Free") and mediation¶

If you ran away after an argument or became stranded in another city and decide you want to return to your family (or to a safe, approved relative like a grandparent, aunt, or older sibling), you do not have to hitchhike or beg for bus fare.

• The "Home Free" Program (National Runaway Safeline + Greyhound): Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929). Through a long-standing partnership with Greyhound Lines, the National Runaway Safeline provides 100% free bus transportation home (or to a vetted safe alternative living arrangement or youth shelter) for runaway and stranded youth ages 12 to 21 across the United States.
• How it protects you: Before issuing the free ticket, a crisis counselor speaks privately with you to make sure you actually want to go there and that the home is safe from abuse, conducts a three-way mediation call with your parent or guardian so everyone stays calm on arrival, and even provides a free bus ticket for a parent or legal guardian to travel with you if you are ages 12 to 14.

Global directory of 24/7 youth homelessness and crisis lifelines¶

Ngaahi fehu'i 'oku toutou 'eke .¶

Kuo vakaiʻi ʻa e ngaahi maʻuʻanga fakamatalá¶

• Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, United States): Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA, 34 U.S.C. § 11201 et seq.) standards for Basic Center Programs, Transitional Living Programs, Maternity Group Homes, and Street Outreach Programs.
• Department of Education (ED, United States) and SchoolHouse Connection: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Subtitle VII-B, 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) statutory guidance on unaccompanied homeless youth school enrollment, School of Origin transportation, and FAFSA Independent Student determinations under the FAFSA Simplification Act.
• National Runaway Safeline (NRS) and National Safe Place Network (United States): Crisis intervention protocols, Txt 4 HELP (44357) operational standards, and Home Free family reunification transit guidelines.
• Department of Agriculture (USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, United States): SNAP policy memoranda confirming eligibility and no-fixed-address expedited food benefit access for unaccompanied homeless youth.
• Polaris Project and National Human Trafficking Hotline (United States): Typologies of labor and sex trafficking recruitment targeting runaway and unhoused youth within the first 48 hours of street exposure.
• Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (United Kingdom): Prevention of homelessness and provision of accommodation for 16 and 17 year old young people who may be homeless and/or require accommodation (joint Children Act 1989 Section 20 and Housing Act 1996 statutory guidance).
• Canadian Observatory on Homelessness / A Way Home Canada and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, Australia): Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) youth intake frameworks and Mature Minor / Gillick Competence healthcare consent doctrines.

Ngaahi fakahinohino fekau'aki¶

• Unhoused survival and extreme weather triage
• Mēmipa ʻo e fāmilí ʻoku mole
• Fefakatau'aki 'o e tangata
• Fakamālohi ʻi ʻapi