Running Away from the Economy

In a lot of ways, the current economic issues in the US haven't significantly changed my life in any way, and because of that, it's hard for me to understand and relate to other teens that are struggling. However, after reading a New York Times article titled "Running in the Shadows: Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways," I became aware of just how greatly many American teenagers are being affected by the economy.

Since the economy has taken a turn for the worse, the number of children leaving their homes for life on the street has increased drastically. For some parents, the inability to provide for their families financially has put increasing pressure on their children, creating an unstable living environment. "Foreclosures, layoffs, rising food and fuel prices and inadequate supplies of low-cost housing have stretched families to the extreme, and those pressures have trickled down to teenagers and preteens." For many of the Medford, Oregon teenagers interviewed in this article, these pressures create a burden that they are unable to carry. For them, this means that living on the streets is easier than living at home. On the streets, these kids aren't affected by the ups-and-downs of the economy the same way and they don't have to rely on others (like their parents) to create a stable living environment. They can create stability for themselves.

Fourteen-year old Betty Snyder is now living in a local park with other runaways. Here, she has the support of others who understand her situation, support that was lacking before she left home. As to why she ran away, she says "I'm just tired of it all, and I don't want to be in my house anymore. One month, there is money, and the next month there is none. One day, [my mom] is taking it out on me and hitting me, and the next day she is ignoring me. It's more stable out here." For moms like Betty's, providing for their children has become increasingly difficult as the economy worsens, driving kids like Betty to run away from their homes and fend for themselves.

Yes, we are all suffering from the economy, but clearly some people are impacted more than others. I think it's sad they had to resort to this option, but given the circumstances, these kids have worked so hard to remove themselves from their families and create lives for themselves regardless of the limitations the economy put on them. Although many of these runaway kids, including Betty, seem content with life on the street, they often have to resort to illegal activity (like selling drugs) to earn money. This being said, there's a good chance they could get caught, and it's only a matter of time before their newfound freedom from economic struggle is compromised. In trying to protect their freedom, what can we do for these kids? How can we help them? Can we help?