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>> NATALIE: My mom she was into drugs and my dad I don't know.
He was never there.
I just felt like I didn't really have nobody.
So I end up like leaving.
I felt like my friends were more of a family to me than my own household was.
I just was in the streets.
It's just the life I chose.
>> MODERATOR: Every year tens of thousands of young people experience homelessness.
>> NATALIE: Find a way to get your own money.
You had to find your own way to get your own food.
You had to find your own place to stay.
It � it was just hard.
It was frustrating.
Sometimes you wouldn't eat.
It was like this hunger pain.
A lot of people like cry out for help without saying anything.
Sometimes you can see it, sometimes you can't.
>> MODERATOR: If you or someone you know needs help 1-800-RUNAWAY can provide support and
connect you to the right resources.
>> NATALIE: If you're someone who's thinking about running away, call the hotline or the
1-800 number.
They want to help you.
They want to get you started.
They want you to do better for yourself.
So I know just coming here and I ended up graduating employment training classes at
Larkin Street as a valedictorian.
Right after that, like they just put me in the kitchen.
I was running the kitchen.
It's fun to me.
I like being here.
I'm proud of myself because I came a long way.
>> MODERATOR: 1-800-RUNAWAY quickly connects homeless youth to housing and support services.
>> NATALIE: No matter what, you don't have to stay in the streets.
It's okay to call the 1-800-RUNAWAY number to seek help.
We have resources and services that may help you.
>> MODERATOR: Every year we connect thousands of runaway and homeless youth to help and
hope.