"Runaways" tells the story of the life of a teenager named Steve Moore. Sixteen-year-old Steve lives with his younger sister, his mother Cheryl and her partner John in a modest house in Bakersfield, California. Unfortunately, John is an aggressive and often inebriated character who exerts control over the household. His violent behavior toward Steve leads to numerous hospital visits. Cheryl, however, remains loyal to her boyfriend, prioritizing their relationship.

In an attempt to protect her relationship with John, Cheryl takes a drastic step: she arrests her own son and places him in a correctional facility. To remedy the situation, she presses her older brother Burt, who lives in Hollywood, to intervene. However, Steve soon discovers that Burt can't even offer him temporary housing. Fortunately, a school administrator refers him to a shelter for runaway youths, where he learns to cope with his new reality.

At the shelter, which provides only two to three months' shelter from homelessness, counselor Tony Perez becomes a source of guidance for Steve and his roommates, Mike and Andy. Encouraging them to consider reconciling with their parents, Perez stresses the importance of taking control of their lives and believing in the possibility of a better future. The shelter serves as a temporary home for various angry and bewildered teenage runaways, showing Steve that he is not alone in his predicament and highlighting the harsh realities of life on the streets.

Despite his desire to join his school's basketball team, Steve puts off this dream and finds an after-school job to support himself. He also establishes a relationship with Sally, a wealthy but unhappy girl. Meanwhile, Andy's life takes a dark turn when he falls into crack addiction and becomes a homeless prostitute. On the other hand, Mike finds stability in his life by moving in with his loving and supportive aunt.

Mike's aunt also grants hospitality to Steve, giving them both a chance to return to a normal life. Together they celebrate their newfound happiness and work toward a better future.