Surge of Teen Runaways in Salt Lake City

(CBS)  Homeless teenager Bradley showed CBS News correspondent Seth Doane his "squat" where he sometimes sleeps. The squat is fiercely protected, and hidden from view. It's hardly his, but it's all that he has.

"I did run away from my parents' house," Bradley said. "But that's only because they were mentally and physically abusive."

More than 1.5 million teenagers run away or are kicked out of their homes every year. They flee one set of problems - and find others.

Volunteers of America, Utah
National Runaway Switchboard
Safe Place

"We need jobs, we need ways to earn money," Bradley said. "We need to have a house or an apartment or a solid place to call home."

"You don't have that now," asked Doane.

"None of us do," Bradley replied. "None of us do."

By "us" he means teenagers bound by hard luck and homelessness. Many are runaways.

Their Salt Lake City refuge is run by "Volunteers of America, Utah."

Over the last two years, "Volunteers of America, Utah" has seen the number of youths they serve double from around 400 a year - to more than 850. And they say the timing during the recession is no coincidence.

Zachery Bale, director of homeless outreach efforts, said: "We've seen more recently - as some of these economic forces kicked up and kids being kicked out or leaving because of financial distress in the family."

Shawn Gonzales lost his $20-an-hour computer job three months ago, then wound up on the street. He left home two years ago. He says his dad worked four jobs, and at just 17 years old, Shawn was helping to pay the mortgage.

"As the oldest I had to be 'mister example," Gonzales said. "I just couldn't do it anymore." But now, without work - he's stuck.

"It's lot tougher than I thought it was going to be," Gonzales said.

"How much have you been looking," Doane asked.

"Every day," he replied.

With few alternatives, callers to the National Runaway Switchboard report that they're turning to panhandling, prostitution, selling drugs, and stealing in order to survive.

Eighteen-year-old Zach, who's a runaway too, depends on the drop in center.

Zach said, "I used to steal from stores and stuff, but that ended up getting out of hand."

The center itself needs a little help. Last year they stayed open late. But now, there's only enough funding to stay open until 6pm.

These teens are on the streets for different reasons, but all share the same reality. The recession just made it worse.

[onemom2]

One of these teens is mine. He was provided with a good home, love and Christian values. When he turned 18 he chose to be homeless. He stole my identity and left with thousands of dollars and my trust. He likes being homeless; panhandles and buys drugs when he can. I'm sure he's not the only teen in that shelter who is there by choice. After he left my home, he went to live with other relatives who required him to either be in school or get a job. He didn't want to do either, so he stayed in SLC because they "take care of him" without any effort on his part.

I hear from him occasionally, asking for money for his cellphone bill and "smokes"....he'll be 19 next week. What is he learning?

[aChangeOfIdeas]

How is an 18 year old a runaway? An 18 year old moves out because they're an adult now.

[democracy1]

Didn't say how long ago he ran away.

[jinks_smith]

In times like this, parents should be aware of the feelings of their kids. Material support is not the only thing that matters but also moral and emotional support that these kids would get from thier family. An open communication plays a big role. Nevertheless, Im certain that these kids will sooner or later learn to go back to their families; because theres still no place like "HOME". By the way, Happy Birthday to me!!!.. you may send your greetings to [e-mail]

[lemonskinkus]

Playing on an X-box doesn't teach anything about survival skills. So buy more X-boxes, and Playstations, and while your at it throw in a I-pod or mp 3 player with those wonderful earplugs that is creating a race of zombies.

[cidaia]

I would agree with you about the work ethic but first we gotta restore the sense of opportunity.

What we need is real faith, that if we put in the work - to get the education, to develop the work skills, to get good grades, whatever - that there will be an opportunity, a REAL opportunity, to do something worth working for.

The real difference between kids who work hard in school vs. those who don't is the ones who work hard (and/or their parents) think they're going to have a decent - maybe even exciting - career when it's all done.

[quotelawrence]

this is a very good sign as police and government officials are supporting the children leaving the parents in hysteria Children have always tried to get away with whatever they can but now in America there is a total breakdown in parental rights and the absolute power of the court, the constitution never made the court the highest power as the Constitution states "We the People", but notice when ever our majority says something the Court intervenes and now these Kids are going to be victimized by every oddball on the street and they will learn a lesson in begging rather then working for what you need they will receive anything they want and they will be handicapped from this exercise in disobedience.

[kfccanada]

It is common knowledge that this recession has severly reduced the number of part time jobs available for teenagers; if the truth be known, all the parents now have all the part time jobs available. How do you expect teenagers to get a job with limited education if their parents can't? Get real! The kids are supposed to be in school, right?

[bilwht8]

If I can chime in for the first time, I am in complete agreement of the "breakdown of parental rights". It is so absurb how many rights children under the age of 18 have rather than adults who are trying to bring up respectable, educated, law abinding children. I need to share the fact that my daughter, 14 years of age, in the state of Rhode Island, has been missing for well over two weeks now. The police do not want to help, as she is labeled a "runaway" and not an "abduction". Either way, children who are abducted and children who runaway are both important to someone. The child missing is still someone's daughter or son. Either way they are human beings, struggling with something, whether it's the reasons for running away or some really mean person abducting an innocent child and making them suffer. I have to ask this government of ours or police force, if you may, when is it that they turn the case of my missing daughter from runaway to a top priority case? How long does it take for them to take it seriously????? I was told by a girl who we thought my daughter may have been with, and wasn't, this is a "fad", "all the kids are doing it" She meant running away....WHY????? Is it because as parents we have no rights today to discipline our children when they are so out of line. THEY are going to be our next leaders!!! I was never psychologically effected by my parents when they smacked my behind when I deserved it. That has made me the person I am today. Back, not that long ago, when you got hit for your wrong doing, you stood up, even stronger than when you went down. Thank you to our parents and then some for making us the people we are today.......I have to ask, what do I/we, whoever may be going through the same thing as we are, do next?? What's next?? There are no support groups that I can find to help me and my family through this awful, awful time of the unknowing.......what do we do??? To those of you that have taken the time to read this, thank you for your time. It is much appreciated.

[rykatspop]

It's all because you can't spank your kid now. Everything is abuse. There is this stupid notion that children are smaller versions of an adult. Wrong! Kids go bonkers when they don't get the boundaries. Today's parents want to be pals with their kids, and their friends. Cute, but stupid. Kids are kids--they don't have the brains and skills to be treated as adults. I'm not saying anyone should smack their kid around or scream at them either. Don't believe the new age, mumbo jumbo crap psychology puts out these days. You'll notice this kind of junk happens to sell a lot of books to millions of confused parents, single or not.

[edgy44]

My dad told me I had two options when I graduated high school: pay $100 rent, or get out. I didn't complain, and I respected his decision. I was in Marine Corps boot camp within a month. That was back in 1972 when I was 18. My dad considered me an adult, as I could both vote and drink, so therefore I could pay rent too.

[Overruled1]

72....just listen to yourself....
you old bag.....
life was much better than todays' world....
While there are some advancements over that era,
and some of the same ole thing....Nixon...Bush..
Do you know what rent costs these days? It's not that Franklin your dad asked for....
Prospects for real careers are a serious concern..especially in our Corporate Fascist recession.

[DSR_57]

by Overruled1
" Life was much better than todays world"

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you sick in the head ?? Are you sick in the head ?? It isn't that ie WAS much better, it was that kids had something called Responsibility ! ! The liberals have taken that from our Youth and told them the it's never their fault and everybody gets to play, then when they are hit with what most call " The Real World" they can't cope.

[mari1963]

How can you throw your teen out on the street or expect them to work and help pay the mortgage. This is a parents responsibility, not the child! What is wrong with parents today that mothers put their boyfriend before their own child? If parents stayed married and quit bringing up children in broken homes without fathers there would be less of this going on. This year at my church out of the 30 families we are helping with Christmas presents and food, 25 of them are families with a single mom trying to raise her 4 or 5 children with her live in boyfriend (or fiance' <--- joke!. What kind of example does that set for her children? Here's a hint - if you have been living with your boyfriend for over 6 months and he hasn't married you, he's not going to. He's not a fiance' - he's just another child to raise. Women need to wise up and stop this now !!!!! Marry your child's daddy and/or don't have babies till you do!

[SigmaDeltaChi]

Mr. Doane, check your facts or attribute what you report to "according to". I know Shawn Gonzales and he has always had trouble recognizing the truth. He did NOT move out two years ago and he was NOT helping to pay the mortgage at 17. I know his parents very well. Shawn tends to say and do what he can to be the center of attention. Tonight he got a national audience. It's sad to think that these boys are getting the sympathy and attention of American when, at least this young man, doesn't deserve it.

[kfccanada]

Please elaborate on how you know Shawn Gonzales; are you his parent, his former boss, a former teacher, another streetperson? It seems you are intent on discrediting his story for some reason.Kids at 17 do tend to embellish their stories; however, perhaps the real truth is that his parents stated he HAD to help pay the mortgage, since he was not in school, but working, or else he'd had to get out and support himself. The teenager having more disposable money than the parent also causes problems in the home.

[tmittelstaed]

"...Please elaborate on how you know Shawn Gonzales..."

Well, since both Shawn Gonzales and Bradley are minors, for CBSnews to legally print their names in this story would mean they would have had to get releases signed by their parents or legal guardians, unless both of those teens had been legally emancipated. The reason being is that since those teens aren't 18 yet, their signature on a release isn't legally binding.

Now, maybe Seth Doane did go to their parents and get releases signed - but you would think that if he did, that an even more interesting add to the story would have been the parents opinions and views of their children living on the street. Since that is missing I also am skeptical that the story is true. Furthermore, working in the computer industry myself, I find it very difficult to believe that a 17 year old was pulling $40K a year on a "computer job". That's not to say that it's impossible, but any computer tech good enough to make that kind of money at age 17 is good enough to go freelance if his employer fires him.

[belle-the-cat]

It?s so heartwarming to see the sympathy these kids are getting in these comments. They are just kids and obviously they felt desperate enough to leave home. How sad to think they felt the street was better than their home. Not all of them are on drugs. Unfortunately, because they get in a bad situation, they do tend to turn to crime to survive. They will all be in my prayers tonight.

[SigmaDeltaChi]

Don't believe everything you hear. One of these boys has trouble recognizing the truth. If you believed him in this story, you'd be his next victim of his next elaborate con.

[ffoulkes-2009]

I have a kid that ran off just before she turned 17. She did this so she could make her own rules, not for any other reason. Her rules that she could do drugs and have sex whenever she wanted. She has since realized the mistake. Most of these kids will eventually realize the mistake if indeed it was one. Let's hope they live long enough to use that information and realization wisely.