The Home Free program reunites youth with their family or legal guardian or helps them get to an alternative living arrangement (ALA), such as a community-based transitional living program, through a free bus ticket. Home Free works in collaboration with youth, parents and guardians, law enforcement, anti-trafficking organizations, social service, health care providers, and others to ensure youth who are victims of labor and sex trafficking benefit from reuniting with caring adults or getting an alternative living program.

Eligibility & Restrictions

Youth must be between the ages of 12 and 21 and self-identify as homeless, a runaway, or a victim of human trafficking. Youths must agree to complete the necessary steps to obtain a ticket through the Home Free program.

• Youth under age 18 can only return to a parent or legal guardian, which may include a non-custodial parent, sibling age 21 or older, or an extended family member, such as an aunt or uncle.
• For youth ages 18 to 21, options include returning home or traveling to an approved ALA, such as confirmed residential services housing, including a transitional or independent living program willing to accept them. Youth who were formerly in the child welfare system have the option to travel to a prior adult caregiver.
• Tickets are non-transferable.
• Participants must agree to participate in a follow-up phone call to verify the youth’s arrival and to review the utilization of local resources agreed upon during the Home Free ticketing process.

The application process consists of the youth calling NRS’ hotline at 1-800-786-2929 and speaking with NRS Crisis Services team about their situation.


Web pages

• Home -https://www.1800runaway.org/youth-teens/home-free