223 adolescents who sought services from runaway & homeless youth programs in New York State during 1986-87 were identified as having a history of maltreatment. The sample is compared to both statewide & national samples of runaway & homeless youth with regard to demographic characteristics & problems presented to staff at intake. Youth in the maltreated sample were more likely to be female & to have engaged in suicidal behavior but were not otherwise distinguishable from the other samples.