There are many reasons why youth homelessness occurs, but one solution that could prevent this from happening is effective communication. By understanding the other person’s situation and being supportive, you can help advise them not to run away from home or instead, seek refugee in supportive programs relatives, friends, and more. 

• Being understanding is key to know how you can help somebody. Sometimes what youths really need is someone they can talk to without feeling or/and being judged. They may like having someone to talk to about solving the issues of they have and your input could possibly lead them to make a better decision for themselves.
• Try to get youths to discuss their problems with their direct families. Sometimes, youths may not feel supported in their struggles and feeling neglected can make them feel unwanted at home or have the desire to leave home. Although both side may share different perspectives, it is all about understanding one another. Through that, youths and families can learn how to positively help each other in different ways.
• There are other ways for youths to be supported if they are not by their families through relatives, friends, guardians, youth programs, helpful phone lines, and more. You can advised them to look for other options that is safe and trustworthy besides running away from home.
• Prevention of youth runaways can help them avoid other possibly dangerous situations/risks. Such as experiencing homelessness, substance or/and sexual abuse, human trafficking, pregnancy, trauma, and more.

By effectively communicating with youths, we can help solve their problems and give them more options than what they know. If we can prevent youths from becoming homeless and give them a place to solve their concerns, they will be able to have a more positive outlook on their lives and have the opportunity of a better future.