THOUGH THE LIFE of a homeless runaway is fraught with many dangers and risks—beatings, rape, drug and alcohol abuse, health problems, and in some cases, the possibility of arrest and detainment—there are options for those teens who are ready to ask for help. Many cities provide shelters and other programs designed to get kids off the streets and to help them begin to lead productive lives. Similar to the health care organizations that try to help kids, these programs attempt to assist homeless youths without passing judgment on them or expecting them to have parental permission in order to receive aid. Because of this, teens are often more likely to turn to these alternative programs, which do not attempt to force them back into their homes of origin or foster homes if these environments are considered unsafe.

Though...