Children of the Streets: Teens find themselves without a home or services to help them
Photos of homeless teens.
The article details the plight of homeless teens in Santa Cruz. California has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 teen runaways. Many are fleeing an abusive home life. However, since it is no longer illegal to run away, police and social services often cannot help. When younger than 16, these teens can't gain access to local shelters, food stamps, MediCal, or full-time work. They rely on everything from panhandling to "survival sex," all while dreaming of a home.
The article details the plight of homeless teens in Santa Cruz. California has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 teen runaways. Many are fleeing an abusive home life. However, since it is no longer illegal to run away, police and social services often cannot help. When younger than 16, these teens can't gain access to local shelters, food stamps, MediCal, or full-time work. They rely on everything from panhandling to "survival sex," all while dreaming of a home.
Creator:
White, Tracie and Peggy Townsend
Source:
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Date: 1995-03-26
Type:
NEWS; DOCUMENT
Coverage:
1990s
Identifier: CF-30241
Collection
Citation
White, Tracie and Peggy Townsend. “Children of the Streets: Teens find themselves without a home or services to help them.” Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1995-03-26. SCPL Local History. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/106149. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.