For over a decade, Greyhound Lines has partnered with the National Runaway Safeline -- an organization that seeks to keep runaway and homeless youth safe -- to reunite young people with their families and guardians.
Since 1995, the Home Free program has helped over 16,000 families by providing free bus tickets, theNational Runaway Safeline says.
To get a free ticket home, a person between the ages of 12 and 21 must call the NRS helpline (1-800-RUNAWAY). They also must be named on a runaway report and be willing to return to their family. The family or guardian also needs to agree to receive them at home. If the individual hoping to return home is under the age of 15, Home Free also provides a free ticket for the child's parent or guardian.
A person can only get a ticket home through the program twice.
Before a young person begins their journey home, National Runaway Safelinesays it works with them and their guardians to create a plan for their return and locates resources in the community that will be able to provide support once they are settled. After the family is reunited, group says it follows up to make sure the family member arrived home safely and provides additional resources.
