Youth & Teen Help
A safe place, someone to talk to or help planning what comes next. A youth advocate can explain your options and the program’s rules.
Free to search · No account · Check details with the provider
What this covers
Youth shelters, runaway services, after-school programs, mentoring, youth mental health, teen crisis support, job readiness for young people, and youth development programs.
Does not cover: K-12 school enrollment or college admissions. For family support, see Family. For baby/infant needs, see Baby & Infant Essentials.
Who is this for?
Young people looking for housing, support, mentoring or help with work. Age limits depend on the program.
How help usually works
Youth services have age, intake and privacy rules that vary by program and location. Ask a youth advocate to explain your options, including whether a parent or guardian must be involved.
How to start
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- For help thinking through a safe place or next step, call the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-786-2929.
- Ask a program about age limits, open spaces, consent and privacy before traveling there.
What to bring
Ask the program what it needs. If you do not have ID or other documents, tell the intake team and ask about your options.
Example Youth & Teen Help Resources
Enter your ZIP code above to see resources near you. Here are some examples:
New York area
Covenant House New York
Emergency shelter, transitional housing, and support services for homeless and trafficked youth ages 16-24.
460 W 41st Street, New York, NY 10036
24/7
Chicago area
Chicago Youth Centers
After-school programs, mentoring, and youth development on Chicago's South and West sides.
2 N Riverside Plaza, Suite 1850, Chicago, IL 60606
After school and weekends