Help for Specific Groups

Youth Shelters: Help for Runaway and Homeless Youth

Shelters for Homeless editorial team · Updated June 2026

Need help now?

If you need shelter tonight, you don't have to read first — search shelters near you or call 211 or use your local 211 service.

A young person who needs a safe place should contact a youth-specific service when possible. Call or text 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or use the National Runaway Safeline's chat service. Call 911 for immediate physical danger or a medical emergency.

Youth shelter rules vary by age, state law, program, and individual circumstances. Call before traveling and ask what intake process applies.

What youth shelters do

Youth shelters may provide temporary accommodation, meals, clothing, counseling, family mediation, health referrals, school support, and help planning a safe next step.

Programs may serve:

minors;
older youth and young adults;
youth who have run away;
youth asked to leave home;
youth leaving foster care;
pregnant or parenting youth; or
LGBTQ+ youth.

Age limits and eligibility are not uniform.

Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth programs

The U.S. Family and Youth Services Bureau supports several program models.

Basic Center Programs

Basic Center Programs provide emergency shelter and services for runaway and homeless youth, generally including youth under age 18. Services can include food, clothing, counseling, referrals, and efforts to identify a safe placement.

Transitional Living Programs

Transitional Living Programs support older homeless youth through longer-term residential services and independent-living assistance. Exact ages, length of stay, and local requirements vary.

Street Outreach Programs

Street Outreach Programs connect with youth living on the street or in unstable situations and may provide crisis intervention, basic supplies, referrals, and help accessing shelter or services.

What to expect during intake

Staff may ask about:

age and identity;
immediate safety;
where the young person has been staying;
family or guardian contact;
abuse, exploitation, or trafficking concerns;
health and medication needs;
school;
legal or child-welfare involvement; and
whether returning home is safe.

Programs handle parent or guardian notification differently based on age, law, safety, and program rules. Do not rely on a universal promise about confidentiality or custody.

If identification is missing

Call anyway. Explain what documents are missing and ask what alternatives are accepted. A school record, benefits document, prior provider, or caseworker may sometimes help verify information, but local rules apply.

LGBTQ+ youth

Ask whether the program is experienced in serving LGBTQ+ youth and how it handles names, privacy, sleeping arrangements, safety complaints, and family contact. Federal policy in this area is changing, and state or local protections may differ.

If the first shelter is full

Ask the National Runaway Safeline, 211, or local youth outreach about:

another youth shelter;
a Basic Center Program;
a host-home or crisis-placement program;
a drop-in center;
severe-weather options;
transportation; and
the next intake time.

No hotline or directory can guarantee placement.

For parents and concerned adults

The National Runaway Safeline also assists parents, guardians, and other concerned adults. Focus on the young person's immediate safety, listen without threats, and seek professional guidance when abuse, exploitation, self-harm, or violence is involved.

Find local youth options

Use the directory's youth filter where available. Confirm the age range, intake process, and current availability before traveling.

Sources

*Information reviewed for accuracy in June 2026. Age rules, eligibility, confidentiality, and intake procedures vary.*

Find a shelter near you

Free, no account required.

Search shelters →