From Latchkey Kid to Homeless Teenager?

I wonder sometimes about human nature.

A teenage boy came into my office not too long ago.  He was probably 16 or 17 years old, but looked much younger.  He caught my eye immediately because of his lost expression.

“My mom kicked me out today,” he said.  “I don’t have anywhere to stay.  What do I do?”

My first instinct was to hug him and tell him that everything would be okay.  Anything to take that shine of tears out of his eyes.  But he was only barely holding onto his composure as it was and I’m sure he would have resented any show of pity.  Instead, I gave him the phone number to social assistance and told him exactly what to say to make sure that he would be taken care of.

This is not the first time I’ve encountered a homeless child.  One of the youth I mentored this past year was kicked out at 17, only a month after I met him.  His addict mother assured him that he was now old enough to take care of himself, despite the fact that he was still in high school. 

And this is in Canada.  This is not a poor community overall, although unemployment is high.  But still I wonder, why would a parent decide that a child still in school is able to fend for themselves?

We see incidences in the news of child labour, or forced marriages, or child abandonment.  The most sensational cases of kidnappings and child abuse are always well promoted.  Why does this even happen?  What kind of person looks at a child and thinks: “Here is someone who is dependent on me for everything.  How can I betray their trust?”

Maybe these are all gradual things.  A parent needs to work shifts, so gets their 10 year old a key.  Then leaves $20 on the table each morning for the 13 year old to buy supper.  Then has the 15 year old get a job to contribute to the household bills.  By 17, it may seem logical to send them out on their own.

No matter how precocious, or mouthy, or self-centered a teenager is, they are still children and deserve to know that there is always a place they can call home, where someone will be willing to take care of them.