Runaways, the Deadlock of Youth Care Services

In 1995 the National Center for Health Statistics published a report about health-risk behaviors among American youth. This report shows that about one in six teenagers had run away at least once in the course of a year, and boys were more likely than girls to have done so (17.5% versus 14.1%). The study states that there are about half a million runaways in the United States of America. Other estimates are as high as two million. There are many confounding factors when accurately counting these youth. About thirty-five percent of the runaways have already run away before, even several times. Furthermore, they are then unlikely to reside in adult shelters, where such data are collected. Federally funded shelters are estimated to serve only one in twelve runaway youth. To make a complete count, one would be required to account for those living independently in streets, parks, train or bus stations, subways, abandoned buildings (“squats”), and stranger's homes (Farrow 720). It goes without saying that living at such at-risk locations makes them more easily victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. In the United States assaults, illness, or suicide will take the lives of 5,000 runaway youth each year (National Runaway Switchboard).

The Council of Europe estimates that in the United Kingdom approximately 40,000 minors run away every year. In Germany the number of runaways is even higher. The best “guestimate” indicates there are 7,000 street children in the Netherlands, 4,000 in Belgium, 10,000 in France, 500 to 1,000 in Ireland, and 6,000 to 7,000 in Turkey. The majority of runaways are between 13 and 17 years old (65.8%), particularly above the age of 15 (Council of Europe). Once these youth are on the streets, there are few legitimate means of survival. Although some try various kinds of delinquent activity such as selling drugs, stealing, and panhandling, one of the most common ways of obtaining funds is through “survival sex.” Street youth often