Runaway Teens

The children who walk across our doorstep are in trouble. They’re running away from physical abuse, drug-addicted parents or other insurmountable challenges. They need our help.

The streets are no place for a child to sleep, yet hundreds of children run away from home each year on Long Island. Family & Children’s has the only shelter for runaway teens between New York City and Montauk; we welcomed more than 400 lost and lonely teens last year.

Shelter from the Cold

Since 1982, our runaway shelter called Nassau Haven has never turned away a child in trouble. We provide a warm bed, nourishing food, counseling, family mediation, an assessment of the child’s situation and conflict resolution to help the child return home, if possible. We help find out what is best for each individual child, and when returning home is not an option, we try to find long-term placement.

 

How You Can Help

We offer sponsorships of the individual bedrooms at Nassau Haven to cover the large cost associated with bedding, cleaning, upkeep and furniture. Sponsors can help us create a clean, warm and inviting space for teens to rest while their situation is sorted out by trained counselors and social workers. Annual sponsorships of $2,000 receive naming rights to individual bedrooms.