(WWJ) -- Free bus tickets will be provided for young people in need to help them return home for the holidays.
Greyhound, along with their "Home-Free" program -- now in its 34th consecutive year -- will help runaway, homeless and exploited youth between the ages of 12 and 21 reunite with their families, or legal guardians, through a free bus ticket home or to a stable and safe place.
“I am both humbled and thrilled to be a part of the Greyhound team committed to providing young people the chance to reconnect with their families and return to a safe environment," said Dave Leach, president and chief executive officer of Greyhound Lines, Inc. "It is our hope that the resources we provide runaway youth will bring comfort to those looking to safely reunite with their families.”
To extend the program to provide this service on a greater scale, Greyhound has been partnered with the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) -- a national non-profit organization committed to ensuring that runaway, homeless and at-risk youth are safe and off the streets -- since 1995.
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Nearly 4.2 million youth experience some form of homelessness each year in the U.S. -- leaving them at risk for exploitation, assault, illness and suicide, according to the Voices of Youth Count from researchers at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.
In 2020, about 325 free bus tickets were provided to young people looking to be reconnected with their families, according to Greyhound.
So far in 2021, Greyhound and the NRS have provided more than 230 free bus tickets.
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“The Home Free partnership between Greyhound and NRS continues to have a positive impact in providing a vital resource in helping address and resolve the growing number of homeless and exploited young people,” said Susan Frankel, chief executive officer, NRS.
If you or someone you know has run away or is experiencing homelessness and wants to return home or needs help, call 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929) or visit this website.
