16-year-old avoids home because she shares a room with her 14-year-old sister, who constantly steals from her and fights her: 'I got double grounded then for saying I can't stand her.'

She deserves to feel safe in her own home.

Not everybody is a homebody by nature. Many people prefer to be in and out of the house as quickly as possible, only going home to sleep and perhaps eat breakfast. I've been like that for most of my adult life, and it's not because I don't like my living situation. Being out in public makes me so much happier than staying in all day, and it helps facilitate social interactions beyond my household.

A lot of people stay out of the house to avoid problems at home. A distant dad might leave for work early and come home late to avoid spending time with his family. A territorial older sister might leave for school early and stay at the library until it closes so her younger sister won't have access to her car. A young boy might go over to a different friend's house every night to do homework so he can avoid his parents' bickering. Avoiding your home is never a permanent solution to your problems, but it can certainly help, depending on the issue and the solution.