“Cindy, wake up.” She struggles to lift her head. It feels like a lead balloon. “I know you just got here last night, but my mom says you can’t stay…My mom says she can get in trouble if someone finds out your staying here. She says you need to go home.” “If she only knew about what happens there, she’d know that I can’t go back…My mom doesn’t really want me there anyway. She’s told me to get out enough times.” Cindy thinks to herself. “What am I supposed to do now? Maybe I can crash at Jonnie’s for a while. I don’t think her mom will care. She’s strung out half the time anyway.”

Each youth that runs away has something she or he is running to or is running from…whatever the reason, often these youth have difficulty resolving the issues that send them couch hopping or to the street. Family problems, substance abuse, neglect and abuse of all sorts are the most frequent concerns that they face.

Even without these difficult life circumstances, teens face serious challenges during a period of life that is no longer childhood and not quite adulthood. They face almost constant pressure about fitting in and status in peer relationships, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, education, and their future goals and dreams. As these issues arise, these struggles can begin to drive a wedge between family members.



Since 1985, Hidle House has provided an opportunity for homeless, runaway and struggling youth, ages 12 – 17 years old, to have safe shelter while providing guidance and support to both youth and their families to resolve the issues that bring them there. Working from a philosophy of positive youth development, Hidle House works with youth to make positive changes in their lives and to develop attributes that will result in their future success in their relationships and goals. While in shelter, youth continue to attend their local school and are encouraged to maintain supportive, positive relationships with peers and caring adults. After a brief period of assessment and connection with local community services, youth return home or are referred to other more permanent, safe living arrangements.

We have been blessed by an outpouring of community involvement, from reconstruction of the facilities to mentoring and tutoring the children we serve. But, we still have room for you to get involved.

If you would like to volunteer or to be considered for employment, please use these links or see the What You Can Do page.

If you’d like to know about Hidle’s current needs, see our Needs List.

Find out how you can financially support the work of Hidle’s, by becoming an Anchor for today’s children.